Source denies PM’s characterization of current status of talks: Not just waiting for Hamas to say ‘yes’

A source involved in the hostage negotiations tells The Times of Israel that the statement issued by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office earlier this evening claiming that Israel has accepted the so-called “Witkoff proposal,” while Hamas has refused to do so, mischaracterizes the current status of the talks.

The source says that mediators are still working to coax both sides to compromise on a number of issues. “This is not a matter of just waiting for Hamas to say ‘yes,'” the source says.

Negotiators are trying to come up with a temporary hostage deal that allows Hamas to claim that the agreement will lead to the eventual end of the war, while Israel can claim that it hasn’t committed to doing so, the source explains.

Given the lack of trust between the sides, this has been a difficult task to accomplish, the source says, while insisting that a deal is still possible.

While the senior members of Israel’s negotiating team have been called back from Qatar to Jerusalem by the prime minister, the source says that those individuals weren’t really playing an integral role in the talks to begin with.

US special envoy to the Mideast Steve Witkoff is not in Doha either, but has been in continued contact with Netanyahu and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer.

Palestinian-American political activist Bishara Bahbah continues to operate a backchannel between the US and Hamas leaders in Qatar where he arrived yesterday, the source says.