Israel is demanding that mediators exert full pressure on Hamas to continue the first phase of the hostage deal and secure the release of additional hostages. This follows weekend negotiations in Cairo that ended in an impasse.
Hamas has officially stated its desire to move to the second phase of the deal, which would conclude the war in exchange for the release of more hostages. Israel, however, strongly opposes this proposal.
Extended truce or return to war
Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem told Qatari media: "There are no ongoing negotiations with Hamas regarding the second phase. Israel wants to discuss extending the first phase and retrieving its prisoners (hostages) while keeping the option open to resume aggression in Gaza. This contradicts the agreement. Israel is evading its commitment to ending the war and withdrawing completely from Gaza."
Israel has presented Hamas with two options: extend the first phase of the deal, securing more hostage releases and prolonging the ceasefire, or return to full-scale war with full American backing. Officials in Jerusalem view the coming hours as critical in determining whether the situation will escalate into renewed warfare if Hamas refuses Israel's terms.
Last night, the negotiating team that returned from Cairo briefed Netanyahu in detail on the talks' outcome. It was a tense weekend in Jerusalem, where officials had anticipated swift progress toward the second phase. However, Hamas introduced obstacles, despite assessments that it currently has no interest in resuming hostilities.
Hostages are Hamas' last bargaining chip
A key figure involved in the negotiations is Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, who is also expected to pressure Qatar and Egypt to push Hamas toward continuing the first phase of the deal.
"We are giving it 24 hours to see if there is a positive development," a source familiar with the negotiations told Israel Hayom ahead of a high-level meeting led by Netanyahu with senior ministers and security officials.
Israeli officials recognize that the hostages are Hamas' last bargaining chip, which the group seeks to use to extract a war-ending agreement on its own terms, allowing it to remain a powerful force in Gaza, with military capabilities intact and the ability to regroup for future attacks. The Israeli government, including Netanyahu, who currently enjoys full support from President Trump, has made it clear that such an outcome is unacceptable.
For now, Witkoff's efforts in the negotiations are being conducted remotely, as he is not expected to arrive in Israel until later this week. Trump has reiterated multiple times since taking office that decisions regarding Hamas and the war are Netanyahu's alone, he merely provides counsel. This marks a stark contrast to Trump's recent approach toward Ukraine, where he pressured its president to end the war with Russia, completely reversing the previous US stance.
The Biden administration's policy toward Israel has also undergone a dramatic shift: no more calls to end the war or dictate its pace and strategy, as was the case under Biden. Instead, the US is now fully backing Israel in its fight against Hamas, even supporting a return to war if necessary.
Hamas is hearing these signals, receiving these threats, and will soon have to decide if the gates of hell are merely days, or weeks away.
