Netanyahu halts Gaza ceasefire talks amid Hamas’s hardened calls for

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Ceasefire negotiations between Israel and the Hamas terrorist group hit a setback Thursday, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recalled Israel’s negotiating delegation from Doha following what officers described as a hardening of Hamas’ calls for.

"In gentle of the response Hamas delivered this morning, it has been determined to recall the negotiating workforce for additional consultations in Israel," the Prime Minister’s Workplace mentioned in a press release. "We recognize the efforts of the mediators, Qatar and Egypt, and the efforts of envoy Steve Witkoff to realize a breakthrough within the talks."

In keeping with studies in Israeli media, the phobia group is now demanding the discharge of 200 Palestinians serving life sentences for murdering Israelis, and a further 2,000 Palestinians detained in Gaza after Oct. 7. That demand considerably exceeds the earlier mediator-backed framework – reportedly accepted by Israel – which included the discharge of 125 life-term prisoners and 1,200 different detainees.

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Palestinians carry assist provides from the U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Basis, in Khan Younis, within the southern Gaza Strip, Might 29, 2025. (Reuters/Hatem Khaled)

"The return of the delegation isn't a collapse or a disaster, however the gaps are important and current throughout all core points," a senior Israeli official informed Channel 12. One other official confirmed to U.S. Center East envoy Steve Witkoff that Hamas’ up to date prisoner alternate phrases are "unacceptable."

A joint assertion by 25 international locations condemning Israel’s conduct in Gaza might have additional sophisticated already fragile ceasefire negotiations, Israeli officers prompt. In response to the condemnation, Israel’s Overseas Ministry issued a sharply worded assertion, warning, "At these delicate moments within the ongoing negotiations, it's higher to keep away from statements of this sort.

"Israel rejects the joint assertion revealed by a bunch of nations, as it's disconnected from actuality and sends the mistaken message to Hamas." The ministry added that "all statements and all claims ought to be directed on the solely occasion liable for the dearth of a deal for the discharge of hostages and a ceasefire: Hamas, which began this conflict and is prolonging it."

Hostage families expressed deep concern concerning the breakdown in negotiations. "The households are watching with concern as studies emerge concerning the negotiating workforce’s return," the Hostages and Lacking Households Discussion board mentioned in a press release. "Day-after-day that passes endangers the hostages’ probabilities of restoration and the power to find the useless. One other missed alternative to carry everybody house can be unforgivable – an ethical, safety, and diplomatic failure."

The negotiations , which have dragged on for weeks, are a part of a proposed U.S.-backed deal involving a 60-day ceasefire in alternate for the discharge of some 50 remaining Israeli hostages, a phased launch of Palestinian prisoners and expanded humanitarian assist to Gaza.

Hamas terrorists take up positions forward of a hostage launch in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, Feb. 8, 2025. (AP)

Hamas can be demanding that Israeli troops withdraw to positions held earlier than March 2, when the final ceasefire collapsed, and that the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt reopen in each instructions. The group additional opposes the newly established U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Fund, demanding that assist distribution return to the earlier U.N.-supervised mechanism.

Relations and supporters of Israeli hostages held captive within the Gaza Strip because the Oct. 7 assault in southern Israel maintain their portraits at Hostages Sq. in Tel Aviv on Might 28, 2025, to mark 600 days of their captivity and demand their launch and an finish to the conflict. (Ahmad Gharabli/AFP through Getty Photographs)

A Hamas official informed Reuters the group is insisting on a return to a Jan. 19 protocol for assist entry, and that ceasefire negotiations should embody a clause stopping Israel from resuming navy operations after the 60-day truce – even when a broader deal isn't reached.

On the heart of the impasse is the rising humanitarian disaster. The U.N. and worldwide assist teams warn that a whole lot of hundreds of individuals in Gaza face extreme meals insecurity. It's claimed that civilians within the north have been pressured to outlive on animal feed and foraged vegetation, whereas chaotic assist distributions within the south have repeatedly turned lethal.

Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, the chief of the Normal Employees, conducts a discipline tour within the Rafah space of the Gaza Strip. (IDF)

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In response to mounting stress, Israel is visibly rising the tempo of assist deliveries. On Thursday, COGAT (Coordinator of Authorities Actions within the Territories) reported that 70 assist vans had been transferred into Gaza on Wednesday by means of the Zikim and Kerem Shalom crossings. The shipments, primarily meals, had been delivered below IDF coordination with the U.N. and humanitarian organizations.

COGAT mentioned greater than 150 vans had been collected inside Gaza, however warned that over 800 vans stay uncollected on the crossings on account of logistical breakdowns on the Palestinian aspect.

The Gaza Humanitarian Basis (GHF) said on X that it supplied on Wednesday to ship the U.N.’s tons of assist sitting in Gaza at no cost. John Acree, GHF’s interim director, mentioned, "We’ve seen assist by the U.N. and different group(s) being piled close to the borders however not being delivered."

<source media="(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/01/672/378/netanyahu_witkoff-photo-prime-ministers-meadia-adviser.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/01/1344/756/netanyahu_witkoff-photo-prime-ministers-meadia-adviser.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="378" width="672"><source media="(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/01/931/523/netanyahu_witkoff-photo-prime-ministers-meadia-adviser.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/01/1862/1046/netanyahu_witkoff-photo-prime-ministers-meadia-adviser.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="523" width="931"> Prime Minister Netanyahu meets with Steve Witkoff, particular envoy to the Center East. (Prime Minister's Media Adviser)

Israeli journalist Nadav Eyal reported Thursday that senior protection officers say they’ve been instructed by the political echelon to "enormously pace up the entry of humanitarian assist into Gaza" and to "be much less involved with precautions or plans to maintain it out of Hamas’ arms."

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As talks stall and navy exercise resumes, Israeli officers warn that the window for a deal could also be closing. "There are nonetheless important gaps," one supply informed Channel 12. "The negotiations will not be over – however time is operating out."

Efrat Lachter is an investigative reporter and conflict correspondent. Her work has taken her to 40 international locations, together with Ukraine, Russia, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, and Afghanistan. She is a recipient of the 2024 Knight-Wallace Fellowship for Journalism. Lachter will be adopted on X @efratlachter.