Netanyahu tells hostage families ‘pressure on Qatar starting to work’

In a meeting with representatives of families of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says “the pressure on Qatar is starting to work.”

He says during the Tel Aviv meeting that Israeli pressure on Qatar has caused the Gulf country for “the first time” to push Hamas to agree to a hostage deal.

“Every trip and appearance you make abroad, at the United Nations, in Washington, and in the various capitals has an effect,” says Netanyahu, according to his office. “The pressure on Qatar is starting to work. Qatar started telling them: ‘We will expel you. We will withhold money from you.’ These are things that were said, we made sure that they were indeed said. This is a change, it is a positive thing.”

At the same time, Netanyahu laments that “no real answer has come from Hamas.”

“They still have unacceptable demands,” he says. “They are reluctant to move forward, they also want to set the area on fire in Ramadan.”

A family member tells cameras after the meeting that they asked “pointed questions,” and that “there was a real attempt to answer the question.”