US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff is working behind the scenes to renew negotiations for a hostage deal, two sources familiar with the details told The Jerusalem Post on Thursday.
“After Hamas’s statement outlining its demands for a comprehensive deal, we’ve reached a point where both Israel’s and Hamas’s demands regarding a deal for the release of all hostages are clear,” one of the sources said.
The efforts are focused on finding an efficient mechanism for talks and solutions to bridge the gaps between the sides. Some sources believe that if negotiations for a full deal begin, the mediators will try to ensure the talks proceed at a faster pace than before.
As part of the talks, Witkoff met with Qatari officials in Paris, a source told the Jerusalem Post.
Hamas issued a statement on Wednesday night, saying that the terror group is willing to agree to a comprehensive deal in which all Israeli hostages would be released, “in exchange for an agreed-upon number of Palestinian prisoners, an end to the war in the Gaza Strip, a full withdrawal of IDF troops from the region, and the opening of crossings to allow for the entry of all necessary supplies and the beginning of reconstruction.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office responded: “Unfortunately, this is just another spin from Hamas with nothing new to offer.”
It said that the war could end immediately under the conditions set by the cabinet, which include the release of all hostages, the disarmament of Hamas, the demilitarization of Gaza, Israeli security control over the region, and the establishment of a non-threatening civilian government.
“Only these conditions will prevent Hamas from rearming and repeating the October 7 massacre, as they have promised,” the statement said.
A misleading tactic by Hamas
Defense Minister Israel Katz also said Hamas’s statement is a misleading tactic. Israeli officials argue that the organization’s goal has always been – and remains – “to maintain control over Gaza in a Hezbollah-like model.”
In other words, even if Hamas is willing to relinquish governance of the territory, it still wants to remain present as an armed group, like Hezbollah in Lebanon.
“Hamas’s statement was simply a reaction to a tweet by [US President Donald] Trump on Wednesday, in which he made it clear that it was time to stop the partial hostage release deals,” the sources said.