On Wednesday it was reported that efforts to finally hammer home a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas have failed once again as Israel has reportedly ordered its negotiating team to return home, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has blamed Hamas for the failure by sticking to "delusional" demands.
SOUTHERN ISRAEL, ISRAEL -FEBRUARY 01: An Israeli army vevicle moves along the border with Gaza on February 1, 2024 in Southern Israel, Israel. The Israeli prime minister's office referred to as "constructive" the recent high-level talks on a proposed pause in fighting in Gaza, as well as the release of Israeli hostages held there. The potential deal, which is being brokered by Qatar and Egypt, would also entail the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israel and other conditions.
This statement reportedly came just hours after local Israeli news reported that Netanyahu ordered the Israeli delegation to disengage from talks in Cairo, Egypt.
The families of Israeli hostages ceased by Hamas expressed outrage. According to some estimates, roughly a fourth of the 130 remaining captives are believed to be dead.
Relatives of the hostages said the Prime Minister's decision was a "death sentence" to their loved ones.
The efforts, spurred on by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, are the only hope for some form of respite for the millions of Palestinians currently under siege by the Israeli military. The fighting has replaced most of the population of Gaza and the West Bank.
"In Cairo, Israel did not receive any new proposal from Hamas on the release of our captives," Netanyahu said in a statement. "A change in Hamas' positions will allow progress in the negotiations."
CIA chief William Burns and David Barnea, head of Mossad, attended the talks in Cairo but the talks concluded on Wednesday. Netanyahu has continually vowed to pursue military action against Hamas until "total victory" and the return of all hostages is achieved.
However, Hamas has stated they will not release all the captives until the Israeli offensive withdraws from Gaza. Hamas also wants Israel to release a large number of Palestinian prisoners, including senior militants.
Netanyahu called such demands "delusional." A group representing the families of the hostages sees the hostages as symbolic of the state's inability to protect its citizens from Hamas and calls the decision to recall the Israeli delegation from Cairo "scandalous."
They said they will camp outside the Israeli Defense Ministry unless the Prime Minister agrees to meet with them.
HNGN will continually update this story as additional details are made available to the press.
