Report: Hostage talks ‘on brink of collapse,’ US frustrated by Hamas’s rejectionism

Talks to bring about a ceasefire and hostages-for-prisoners are “on the brink of collapsing,” Politico reports, citing two unnamed US officials and one unnamed Israeli official.

While Washington has publicly insisted on expressing optimism, the officials reportedly say efforts to bring Hamas onboard the latest proposal — publicly endorsed by Israel — have so far been unsuccessful, with White House officials said frustrated by the Palestinian terror group’s hardline rhetoric against it.

The US outlet says this “has US officials increasingly worried that this proposal will falter just as earlier ones did, with Hamas and Israel at odds and no clear path to end fighting or bring hostages home.”

One of the sources is quoted as saying: “We don’t know if Sinwar wants this deal. But if we don’t get the deal there’s a chance that Iran attacks and this escalates into a full blown confrontation.”

The report says US officials are still hopeful Hamas may abruptly accept the deal, citing past instances in which it spontaneously agreed to truce deals after publicly opposing them.