A senior Israeli official dampens speculation that Israel and Hamas could return to the partial ceasefire-hostage release deal outlined by US envoy Steve Witkoff.
“Israel does not intend to renew talks on a partial deal. The only issue on the table is the release of all 50 hostages with Israel’s conditions for ending the war, including disarming Hamas and demilitarizing Gaza,” a senior official tells Channel 12.
However, a senior security official is quoted as telling concerned hostage family members that the political conditions are not realistic.
“We were making serious progress toward the Witkoff proposal, but the briefings from the senior officials about a comprehensive deal harmed the talks on the Witkoff proposal,” the official says.
“Now the conditions that the cabinet decided on for ending the war can not realistically be implemented. Hamas agreed to disarm, but it’s impossible to completely demilitarize Gaza,” he says.
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