CAIROsaid on Friday that his administration was looking into alternatives to ceasefire talks after the U.S. and Israel dismissed their negotiating teams, further casting doubt on the negotiations’ prospects.
Netanyahu’s remarks coincided with a Hamas spokesman who described the recall of the American and Israeli delegations as a pressure move and stated that talks were anticipated to resume next week. The United States and Egypt, who are mediating the negotiations, said the halt was only temporary and that negotiations would restart, although they did not specify when.
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Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump’s special envoy, claimed Thursday that Hamas’ most recent reaction to peace initiatives demonstrated a lack of interest in a truce. Without providing further details, Witkoff stated that the United States will consider other choices.
Netanyahu reiterated Witkoff in a statement sent by his office, stating that “Hamas is the obstacle to a hostage release deal.”
He said, “We are now looking at other options with our U.S. allies to bring our hostages home, end Hamas’ terror rule, and secure lasting peace for Israel and our region.” He didn’t go into detail. Regarding whether talks would resume next week, the Israeli government did not immediately respond.
Discussions stall as hunger increases
After months of Israel completely preventing food from entering or allowing only small amounts to enter, the Trump administration has failed to reach an agreement on a truce. They have escalated this month.
More than 100 humanitarian and human rights organizations, together with more than two dozen Western-aligned nations, have strongly condemned Israel’s embargo and a new assistance delivery model it has implemented and demanded an end to the war. Even their own employees were, according to the charity and rights organizations.
French President Emmanuel Macron made the announcement on Thursday. Stopping the war in Gaza and saving the civilian population is the most important thing right now,” he stated.
Given the severe circumstances, Jordan has asked to conduct aid airdrops into Gaza, according to a Jordanian official. According to the official, food and milk formula will make up the majority of the airdrops.
The military was organizing the drops, which are anticipated to take place in the next several days, according to an Israeli security officer. The two officials discussed the unfinished plans while speaking on condition of anonymity.
In Gaza City, desperate Palestinians flocked to a charity kitchen on Friday, holding empty pots as they waited for a portion of the thin lentil soup. Many Palestinians have relied on these kitchens to provide them with food, but the U.N. reports that the number of meals they make daily has fallen from over a million in April to just 160,000 now.
One of the women in line, Riham Dwas, remarked, “We haven’t had bread for three months.” “We rely on charity kitchens and make do with a pot of lentils, but sometimes we don’t even have that.”
She takes her kids to the hospital to be given saline IV drips for sustenance when she is unable to find food.
The bodies of striking victims are carried by mourners.
According to hospital officials, an Israeli bombardment killed at least five individuals, including an 11-year-old kid, at a school that was converted into a shelter for displaced persons in Gaza City. Women in the vicinity cried and screamed as dozens of mourners marched with the bodies from Shifa Hospital.
Taraji Adwan cried out, “Enough!” as his son and grandchildren were among the dead. She claimed that when she was filling water bottles, the strike occurred.
Put an end to the war! Starvation, malnourishment, dehydration, a shortage of food, strikes, and terror and devastation are all killing our children. Hamas, enough! Israel, enough! “World, enough!” she exclaimed.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, since Thursday night, almost 80 individuals have died, primarily as a result of strikes, but nine of them were killed while trying to get relief.
The idea of ending the conflict has been a difficult topic of discussion.
The organization was informed that the Israeli delegation had returned home for discussions and would return early next week to begin ceasefire talks, according to Hamas official Bassem Naim on Friday.
Hamas said that the talks had advanced in recent days and that Witkoff’s comments were intended to exert pressure on the group in favor of Netanyahu during the upcoming round of negotiations. According to Naim, a number of issues, including the ceasefire’s agenda, pledges to carry on negotiations in order to secure a lasting accord, and the distribution of humanitarian goods, had all but been resolved.
Egypt and Qatar also announced that progress had been made in a joint statement. They stated that it is normal to halt negotiations in order to conduct consultations before starting the conversation again.
After weeks of negotiations in Qatar, the parties have reported little advancements but no significant breakthroughs. According to officials, a major source of contention is the withdrawal of Israeli forces from their posts in Gaza following any ceasefire.
In exchange for Palestinians detained by Israel, the agreement under consideration is anticipated to include a 60-day ceasefire in which Hamas would free 18 other prisoners in phases. The two sides would negotiate a permanent truce, and aid supplies would be increased.
Conflicting calls to terminate the conflict have stalled the negotiations. Hamas claims that it will only free all hostages if Israel completely withdraws and the conflict comes to an end. Israel has stated that it will not consent to a ceasefire unless Hamas disarms and cedes authority. The militant group claims that while it is willing to relinquish its weapons, it is not ready to leave power.
The hostages are reportedly being held by Hamas in various places, including tunnels, and the group claims that its guards have been ordered to kill them if Israeli forces come near.
Less than half of the 50 hostages who are still in Gaza are thought to be alive. The start-stop conversations are painful, according to their families.
Yehuda Cohen, whose son Nimrod is a hostage, stated, “I thought maybe something will come from the time that the negotiation, Israeli team were in Doha.” “And I wonder myself, ‘When will this nightmare end?’ after learning that they’re returning.
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Shurafa reported from the Gaza Strip’s Deir al-Balah.
