Netanyahu May Recall Delegation from Doha as Hostage Talks Stall

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly considering pulling back Israel’s senior negotiating delegation from Doha as early as Tuesday, citing a lack of progress in ceasefire and hostage negotiations with Hamas. The potential withdrawal underscores Israel's growing frustration with the stalled talks, which have been ongoing for weeks in the Qatari capital.

According to Kan News, while the senior team may depart, a lower-level delegation is expected to remain in place to continue indirect discussions. This approach reflects a delicate balancing act maintaining diplomatic engagement while signaling dissatisfaction with Hamas’s intransigence.

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Al-Thani acknowledged the impasse, telling reporters that “significant differences between the sides” have prevented any meaningful breakthrough.

Netanyahu extended the delegation’s stay by one day on Monday, reportedly out of consideration for the United States. “We’re staying in Doha so as not to offend the United States. It wouldn’t look good if Israel left before Hamas,” a senior Israeli official told Kan.

Meanwhile, in a rare gesture, Israel allowed five humanitarian aid trucks into Gaza on Monday the first in two months. The move reportedly came at Netanyahu’s behest following a promise to U.S. envoy Amos Witkoff, although Israeli officials have denied any direct link between the aid delivery and the recent release of Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander.

Negotiations have intensified since Alexander’s rescue last week. Hamas has proposed releasing between seven and nine hostages in exchange for a two-month ceasefire and the release of 300 Palestinian prisoners. In contrast, Israel is adhering to what’s known as the “Witkoff outline,” which would trade a 45-day ceasefire for the return of 10 living hostages.

One of the sticking points remains Hamas’s insistence on stronger U.S. guarantees that any ceasefire partial or temporary would eventually lead to a complete end to the conflict. Israel has rejected any such preconditions that could compromise its long-term security objectives.

As pressure mounts, both domestically and internationally, Netanyahu’s government continues to navigate a complex web of diplomacy, military strategy, and public expectations. The coming days may determine whether the path to further hostage releases remains viable or shifts back to the battlefield.

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