Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office announced Thursday that Israel's negotiating team would return home for further consultations following Hamas' response to the latest proposal. "In light of Hamas' reply this morning, it has been decided to bring the negotiation team back for further consultations in Israel. We appreciate the efforts of the Qatari and Egyptian mediators and envoy Witkoff's efforts to achieve a breakthrough in the talks," read the statement.
Meanwhile, the IDF prepares to expand ground operations in Gaza in response to what officials described as a problematic reply from the terrorist organization.
A source familiar with the details told Israel Hayom that "the return of the delegation does not indicate a positive development. On the contrary - Hamas is complicating the process, and the prime minister requested the team's return for consultations."
Egypt and US security involvement
According to a Hamas source cited by Reuters, the terrorist organization's response to the mediators included a demand that Israel be prohibited from resuming combat operations during a proposed 60-day ceasefire and that the Rafah border crossing be opened in both directions.
Hamas also proposed a new mechanism for the release of hostages, which it described as "of utmost importance." The terrorist organization further demanded changes to the IDF's deployment maps in the Gaza Strip, stressing that talks were still at the stage of forming the general framework of a deal, not yet negotiating the detailed terms.
Arabic media outlets have recently published details of the changes Hamas submitted in its final response to a proposed hostage and ceasefire deal. Chief among the demands are a more significant withdrawal of IDF forces during the 60-day temporary ceasefire and the elimination of the role of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), the US-backed aid fund.
Egyptian broadcaster Al-Ghad, citing sources, reported that Hamas was also demanding a change in the number of prisoners to be released. Specifically, the terrorist organization seeks the release of 200 terrorists serving life sentences and another 2,000 Gazans arrested under various circumstances since the October 7 massacre.
Regarding military withdrawals, the Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar, which is closely aligned with Hamas, reported that the terrorist organization is demanding a pullback from all residential areas, a withdrawal from Salah al-Din Road, which cuts through Gaza from south to north, and repositioning of Israeli troops to a perimeter approximately 800 meters from the border. Hamas also insisted that only UN organizations be allowed to distribute humanitarian aid, effectively sidelining the American humanitarian fund. The Rafah crossing, it reiterated, must be open in both directions.
Arab sources said current proposals being discussed include a framework for Egyptian and US security involvement and presence at key points and routes in Gaza. While Hamas has reportedly accepted the agreement in principle, it is using the talks to press for a broader Israeli withdrawal.
Key elements of Hamas' response:
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Removal of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.
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IDF withdrawal from Salah al-Din Road and other residential zones.
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Repositioning Israeli troops to an 800-meter perimeter from the border.
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Release of 200 terrorists serving life sentences.
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Release of 2,000 detainees arrested since October 7.
Families of hostages: 'Another missed opportunity would be unforgivable'
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum responded with deep concern to the Prime Minister's Office statement regarding the team's return from Doha. "The families are anxiously following reports about the negotiating team's return. These talks have been dragging on for far too long. Every passing day endangers the fate of the hostages, the effort to rescue the fallen, and the ability to obtain intelligence about them," the forum said.
The statement continued: "The families are calling on Prime Minister Netanyahu, Minister Ron Dermer and Gal Hirsch for an immediate update on the status of negotiations and the main sticking points. Another missed opportunity to bring back all the hostages would be unforgivable. It would mark another moral, security, and diplomatic failure in a seemingly endless string of them."
Earlier this week, it was reported that a meeting in Doha between Qatari and Egyptian mediators and Hamas representatives ended without results. The mediators rejected Hamas' initial response during the meeting, calling it unsatisfactory and demanding a better offer.
