Hostage talks failing over Israel’s demands, unnamed Hamas source says

Negotiations between Israel and Hamas are “heading toward collapse,” an unnamed senior source in the terror group tells the pro-Hezbollah Al-Mayadeen satellite news station.

The unnamed official says recent meetings in Qatar failed to lead to a breakthrough since Israel is insisting on maintaining a presence on the Philadelphi Corridor along the Egypt-Gaza border (which it says it needs to prevent smuggling), while it is unwilling to give up a veto on the identities of 65 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences to be released as part of a deal.

“The negotiations are heading towards collapse because of Israel’s rejection to respond to mediators’ proposals to take care of current issues,” the source says, who adds that Egypt, Qatar and the US are “frustrated” with Jerusalem’s demands.