Ceasefire discussions between Israel and the Hamas militant group faced a hurdle on Thursday when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called back Israel’s negotiating team from Doha, citing what was described as a toughening in Hamas’ demands.
“Given the response received from Hamas this morning, the decision was made to withdraw the negotiating team for further discussions in Israel,” stated the Prime Minister’s Office. “We value the efforts by the mediators, Qatar and Egypt, along with envoy Steve Witkoff’s endeavors to push the talks forward.”
Israeli media outlets report that Hamas is now asking for the release of 200 Palestinians with life sentences for killing Israelis, along with an additional 2,000 Palestinians arrested in Gaza after October 7. This demand greatly surpasses the previously agreed-upon framework supported by mediators and reportedly accepted by Israel, which included freeing 125 prisoners serving life sentences and 1,200 other detainees.
In response to mounting pressure, Israel is visibly increasing the pace of aid deliveries. On Thursday, COGAT (Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories) reported that 70 aid trucks were transferred into Gaza on Wednesday through the Zikim and Kerem Shalom crossings. The shipments, primarily food, were delivered under IDF coordination with the U.N. and humanitarian organizations.
COGAT said more than 150 trucks were collected inside Gaza, but warned that over 800 trucks remain uncollected at the crossings due to logistical breakdowns on the Palestinian side.
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) stated on X that it offered on Wednesday to deliver the U.N.’s tons of aid sitting in Gaza for free. John Acree, GHF’s interim director, said, “We’ve seen aid by the U.N. and other organization(s) being piled near the borders but not being delivered.”
Prime Minister Netanyahu meets with Steve Witkoff, special envoy to the Middle East. (Prime Minister’s Media Adviser)
Israeli journalist Nadav Eyal reported Thursday that senior defense officials say they’ve been instructed by the political echelon to “greatly speed up the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza” and to “be less concerned with precautions or plans to keep it out of Hamas’ hands.”
As talks stall and military activity resumes, Israeli officials warn that the window for a deal may be closing. “There are still significant gaps,” one source told Channel 12. “The negotiations are not over – but time is running out.”
