Israel mulls alternatives to Hamas ceasefire talks

THE Israeli government is considering “alternative options” to ceasefire talks with Hamas, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday, after Israel and the US recalled their negotiating teams, throwing the future of the negotiations into further uncertainty.

- ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTERS

Mr Netanyahu’s statement came as a Hamas official said negotiations were set to resume next week and portrayed the recall of the Israeli and US delegations as a pressure tactic.

The teams left Qatar on Thursday as President Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, said Hamas’ latest response to proposals for a deal showed a “lack of desire” to reach a truce.

Mr Witkoff said the US will look at “alternative options”, without elaborating. In a statement released by his office, Mr Netanyahu echoed him, saying, “Hamas is the obstacle to a hostage release deal” “Together with our US allies, we are now considering alternative options to bring our hostages home, end Hamas's terror rule, and secure lasting peace for Israel and our region,” he said. He did not elaborate. Israel’s government did not say whether negotiations would resume next week.