Israel expects mediators working to broker a ceasefire-for-hostages agreement with Hamas to put more pressure on the terrorist group, the Prime Minister’s Office said Tuesday following talks in Cairo.
In a statement on behalf of the Mossad, Jerusalem announced that a delegation led by officials from the intelligence agency, the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) and the Israel Defense Forces would return later on Tuesday “at the conclusion of another round of intensive talks.”
As part of the negotiations brokered by Egypt and Qatar, mediators formulated an updated proposal to be presented to Hamas, the statement added.
“Israel expects the mediators to act more forcefully against Hamas to move the negotiations forward towards a deal. The State of Israel continues to make all necessary efforts to free the hostages held by Hamas and return them to Israel,” said Jerusalem.
American, Egyptian, Israeli and Qatari interlocutors have been shuttling between Cairo, Doha and Paris in recent months in an attempt to hash out an agreement that would see the release of the remaining captives.
Hamas is still holding 134 hostages out of 253 kidnapped during its Oct. 7 terrorist invasion of the northwestern Negev. Some 1,200 people, primarily Israeli civilians, were killed during the attack and thousands more were wounded.
Last week, Hamas informed mediators that it was sticking to its demands for “a comprehensive ceasefire, [an IDF] withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, the return of the displaced and a real exchange of prisoners.” Israel has repeatedly dismissed the group’s conditions as “delusional.”
Speaking at a women’s event in Jordan last week, Hamas chief Khaled Mashaal declared that the organization’s leadership is “waging a negotiating battle no less fierce” than the military conflict with the IDF, according to a readout of his remarks posted to Telegram by Hamas.
“Inshallah [‘God willing’], we will defeat them in the field and in the negotiating battle,” said Mashaal, adding that the group is also fighting “intense battles” in the media and on the political battlefield.
The terrorist leader reiterated that “in the negotiations, we insist on stopping the aggression, withdrawing from Gaza, returning the displaced to their places, especially in northern Gaza, providing all necessary relief, shelter and reconstruction, and ending the siege.
“We will not release their prisoners [the hostages] until we achieve these goals,” Mashaal vowed.
