Netanyahu: Hostage Deal Stalls, Alternatives to Ceasefire Next/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signaled Friday that Israel may pursue alternatives to ceasefire talks with Hamas. The move follows Israel and the U.S. recalling negotiators from Qatar. Meanwhile, humanitarian conditions in Gaza worsen and international calls for peace escalate.
Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Talks Stalled + Quick Looks
- Netanyahu cites Hamas as the obstacle to a truce deal
- U.S. and Israeli negotiating teams recalled from Qatar
- Gaza humanitarian crisis deepens as hunger grows
- Hamas says negotiations could resume next week
- France recognizes Palestinian state amid growing international pressure
- Hamas demands full Israeli withdrawal for total hostage release
- Israel rejects ending conflict unless Hamas disarms
- At least 22 killed in Gaza in latest Israeli strikes
- Hostage families express frustration over repeated delays
Netanyahu: Hostage Deal Stalls, Alternatives to Ceasefire Next
Deep Look
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Friday that his administration is now weighing “alternative options” beyond ongoing ceasefire negotiations with Hamas, casting serious doubt on the prospects of a truce deal in the near future. His remarks follow the withdrawal of both U.S. and Israeli negotiators from the latest round of indirect talks in Qatar, a move seen by many observers as a sign that the negotiation process has reached an impasse.
The statement from Netanyahu echoed sentiments shared by President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, who said Hamas’ latest response reflected a “lack of desire” to reach an agreement. “Hamas is the obstacle to a hostage release deal,” Netanyahu stated. “Together with our U.S. allies, we are now considering alternative options to bring our hostages home, end Hamas’s terror rule, and secure lasting peace for Israel and our region.”
Neither Netanyahu nor Witkoff detailed what those alternative measures might involve, but analysts suggest they could range from military escalation to unilateral actions to increase pressure on Hamas, or seeking new mediators to shift the dynamic of talks.
Hamas: Negotiations to Resume Next Week
Despite the diplomatic setback, Hamas official Bassem Naim told reporters that the Israeli team’s departure from Doha was for internal consultations and that talks were expected to resume early next week. He described the recall as a pressure tactic by Israel, and said recent negotiations had begun to make incremental progress. According to Naim, key issues such as the sequence of ceasefire steps, humanitarian aid logistics, and the framework for further political negotiations had begun to reach consensus.
Hamas, however, reiterated its longstanding position: It will not release all hostages without a full Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza and a commitment to end the war. On the other hand, Israel remains firm that no final ceasefire agreement can be reached unless Hamas disarms and relinquishes control of the territory. This fundamental disagreement continues to paralyze the talks.
Mounting International and Domestic Pressure
As the war drags on, humanitarian conditions in Gaza have become catastrophic. Over 2 million Palestinians face extreme food shortages, and deaths linked to malnutrition are climbing. More than 100 international humanitarian and human rights organizations, along with over two dozen Western-aligned governments, have issued urgent calls for Israel to ease its blockade and ensure the flow of critical aid.
In a bold diplomatic move on Thursday, French President Emmanuel Macron declared that France would officially recognize Palestine as a sovereign state, stating, “The urgent thing today is that the war in Gaza stops and the civilian population is saved.”
The announcement added pressure on the Trump administration and Israel, both of which are increasingly isolated diplomatically as civilian casualties rise and efforts toward a negotiated solution stagnate.
Hostage Crisis and Civilian Toll
The fate of roughly 50 hostages still held in Gaza, fewer than half of whom are believed to be alive, continues to dominate Israeli domestic discourse. Families of the captives are growing increasingly desperate.
“When I heard that they’re coming back [from talks], I ask myself: When will this nightmare end?” said Yehuda Cohen, whose son Nimrod is among the hostages.
Hamas claims hostages are being held in various concealed locations, including tunnels, and warns that if Israeli troops approach, their captors have been ordered to execute them.
In the midst of the political turmoil, violence on the ground persists. Since Thursday evening, at least 22 people have been killed across Gaza, according to officials at Nasser Hospital. Some were victims of direct airstrikes, while others reportedly died while attempting to reach aid distribution points.
What the Ceasefire Proposal Includes
The currently proposed deal, stalled for weeks, involves a 60-day ceasefire in which Hamas would begin phased releases of 10 living hostages and the remains of 18 others. In return, Israel would free hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. The deal also calls for a significant scale-up of humanitarian aid and outlines a plan for further negotiations toward a permanent truce.
But the talks remain gridlocked over troop redeployment. Hamas insists on a full Israeli withdrawal, while Israel demands security guarantees and the disarmament of militant groups — conditions Hamas refuses to accept.
Until those core demands are addressed, both sides appear to be operating on separate tracks, with the Trump administration stuck in the middle of a conflict with no clear resolution in sight.
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