Amid contradictory reports about ceasefire progress in Israel, US envoy warns: Latest offer ‘the best Hamas will get’

After much optimism last week, the ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas appear to be stalled once again, as the terror group has presented new demands while delaying its response to the latest Israeli offers.

Some Israeli media reports suggest that there is still cautious optimism in Israel, while others indicate growing pessimism.

A senior military source told Kan News on Monday. “I hope we’ll have an agreement this week. The IDF recommends to the political echelon to reach a deal. There is strong will on both sides.”

However, several indications show that the Israeli government is not expecting an agreement to be reached soon.

The IDF on Sunday announced the start of operations in the city of Deir al-Balah, an area in the central part of the Gaza Strip where the military has not yet operated since the start of the war. In addition, the IDF recently presented a plan for more intense combat operations in Gaza to the political leadership.

According to Channel 12 News, Israeli officials said that sending a high-level delegation to Qatar, which would be needed to sign off on a potential deal, was “completely off the table” for now.

Israeli sources added that the arrival of White House envoy Steve Witkoff to the negotiations is not expected at the moment, in what was described as “the clearest indication” that the talks are not progressing.

Meanwhile, U.S. officials have clearly stated that Hamas is to blame for the lack of progress. Israel showed considerable flexibility last week, agreeing to withdraw the IDF from large parts of the Gaza Strip during a potential ceasefire.

If the talks collapse, “the blame will lie fully with Hamas,” sources told Channel 12, adding that Israel and the mediators in the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt are still waiting for Hamas’ response to the proposals from last week.

A senior American official told the outlet that while Israel had been responsible for stalling the talks in the past, “this time that is not the case.”

According to the report, the delay is caused by Hamas leaders in Gaza, who so far have not responded. Hamas officials in Qatar are reportedly inclined to agree to a deal.

After Israel conceded on the issue of the IDF's withdrawal, Hamas reportedly started to raise new demands regarding the number of prisoners it wants freed by Israel.

Reuters on Sunday also cited a Hamas official saying that the alleged hunger crisis in Gaza and reports of dozens of daily casualties “could seriously harm” the negotiations in Qatar.

Another source cited by Channel 12 said that Egyptian and Qatari mediators were now pressing Hamas to respond “as soon as possible.”

“Every day they delay the deal, more Palestinians die from hunger and Israeli airstrikes. We can't keep waiting for a few lousy Hamas operatives in Gaza to make up their mind. Who do they think they are? Hundreds of Palestinians have been killed just since they received the new proposal last week,” another source added. 

In a CNN interview, American envoy Adam Boehler noted that “Hamas is being very rigid. They’ve been offered numerous proposals they should have accepted. It’s time to release the hostages.”

“At this stage, Israel is the one making compromises,” he emphasized. “This is the best offer Hamas will get,” Boehler warned. “Every time they reject it, the situation worsens for them. My advice is: take the U.S.-Israeli proposal, release some hostages, and let’s move toward ending this conflict.”

According to Kan News, the current draft agreement stipulates the release of the 28 Israeli hostages, of whom 10 are believed to be alive, over the period of a 60-day ceasefire. Meanwhile, humanitarian aid will be surged into the enclave.

The hostage releases are planned to be conducted in five stages:

• Day 1: Eight live hostages to be released.

• Day 7: Five deceased hostages to be returned.

• Day 30: Five more deceased hostages to be returned.

• Day 50: Two additional live hostages to be released.

• Final day: Eight deceased hostages to be returned.

After the release of eight living hostages on the first day, Israel is to start withdrawing from northern Gaza.

On the tenth day, Hamas is to provide information on the condition of the remaining hostages, while Israel will disclose information on over 2,000 Gazans held in administrative detention in Israel since the start of the war.

Military operations are to be halted with the start of the ceasefire, including the suspension of all aerial reconnaissance flights for ten hours per day, and twelve hours on days when hostages are released.