Five days after the Israeli delegation departed Doha, there is still no indication that negotiations will resume. Qatar and Egypt remain in contact with Hamas representatives in the Qatari capital, trying to push the terrorist organization toward positions Israel considers "within the realm of reason."
This waiting period is expected to last a few more days, after which "decisions will be made," said the Israeli official. If Hamas significantly softens its stance, talks may resume, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to order the delegation back to Qatar. At present, however, that outcome appears unlikely.
Should Hamas remain entrenched in its current positions and show no willingness to compromise, Israel is likely to escalate its military campaign, with the goal of defeating Hamas.
During Monday night's meeting of the Diplomatic-Security Cabinet, the IDF presented several operational plans in case the war expands. Netanyahu and IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir emphasized that any expansion of military action would be guided by the overriding consideration of ensuring the safety of the hostages during ground operations.
No decisions were made during the cabinet meeting, which was limited to situational briefings and discussion of options. Despite the deadlock, Israeli officials remain hopeful that negotiations can be resumed. "Our preference is a deal, but if that's not possible, there is another way to achieve a decisive outcome," the official said.
Meanwhile, Hamas informed the Al-Hadath channel that its negotiation team has left Qatar and is en route to Turkey for consultations.
