Israel has dramatically recalled its negotiation team from Doha to urgently consult on Hamas’s latest ceasefire response, which includes an audacious demand for 200 life-sentenced terrorists and 2,000 post-Oct 7 detainees in exchange for just 10 living hostages, setting a tense backdrop for high-stakes talks in Sardinia.
The delicate dance of the Gaza ceasefire talks has reached a critical juncture, with Israel’s hostage negotiation team being recalled from Doha for urgent consultations following Hamas’s latest response to the deal proposal.
The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) confirmed the decision early Thursday morning, stating: “In light of the response Hamas delivered this morning, it has been decided to recall the negotiating team to Israel for further consultations.” The PMO expressed appreciation for the “efforts of the mediators from Qatar and Egypt, as well as the efforts of envoy Steve Witkoff to achieve a breakthrough in the talks,” underscoring the gravity of the situation.
According to a bombshell report by Axios reporter Barak Ravid, citing a senior Israeli official and a source familiar with the details, Hamas’s “improved” response contains truly audacious demands. The terror organization is reportedly seeking the release of 200 terrorists serving life sentences for killing Israelis, alongside an additional 2,000 Palestinian Arabs who were detained in Gaza after October 7, all in return for the release of a mere 10 living Israeli hostages. This staggering ratio highlights the immense chasm that still exists between the two sides.
This development follows Hamas’s official announcement earlier Thursday morning that it had delivered its response to the mediators regarding the ceasefire proposal. The PMO had initially confirmed that “the mediators have relayed Hamas’s response to the Israeli negotiation team; it is currently being evaluated.”
The international diplomatic push continues, with US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff scheduled to meet later today with Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer and a Qatari official in Sardinia, Italy. This high-level gathering will likely focus on bridging the significant gaps revealed by Hamas’s latest demands.
It’s revealed that Hamas had previously submitted an initial response on Tuesday, which was outright rejected by mediators for failing to meet the proposal’s key conditions. This rejection was reportedly followed by a “firm message” from the mediators, demanding “immediate and significant flexibility” from Hamas, setting the stage for the current “improved” but still highly contentious proposal. The recall of the Israeli team signals that while there may be “something to work with” compared to the previous rejection, the road to a deal remains fraught with major obstacles.
