With hostage negotiations in doubt, Netanyahu orders team to prepare for talks based on Witkoff proposal

After an in-depth discussion about the hostage situation in Gaza with the negotiating team and security leaders, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed negotiators to prepare for further talks in Qatar. The discussions will be based on a proposal from U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, which, if accepted, would secure the immediate release of 11 living hostages along with half of the deceased.

The hostage negotiation team returned from Doha, Qatar, on Friday after meetings with Witkoff and the mediators.

On Friday, Hamas had offered to release dual citizen, Israeli-U.S. hostage Edan Alexander, along with the bodies of four deceased Israeli-U.S. hostages – Itay Chen, Omer Neutra, Gadi Haggai and Judy Weinstein – in return for a ceasefire extension and the release of more Palestinian security prisoners. 

The Hamas offer is seen as a clear rejection of the Witkoff proposal and a hardening of the group’s insistence that phase 2 of the current hostage-ceasefire deal be implemented immediately. The second phase of the ceasefire was intended to include negotiations for a permanent ceasefire and the withdrawal of all Israeli forces from Gaza.

While the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) withdrew from certain areas, including key points like the Netzarim Corridor, it has continued to maintain a presence in the Gaza Strip. 

A senior Palestinian member of Hamas told Lebanon's Al-Mayadeen TV channel that Israel “insists on the release of 10 live hostages before the start of negotiations regarding the second phase of the deal.” 

According to a report from Al Jazeera, Hamas not only rejected the Witkoff proposal but also submitted a lengthy list of "amendments." These included demands for the release of Palestinian security prisoners, the initiation of negotiations for the second phase of the deal, and guarantees for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.

Additionally, Hamas demanded the reopening of the crossings into the Gaza Strip and the entry of humanitarian aid, which Israel suspended after Hamas refused to accept the first version of the Witkoff proposal. 

The terror group also demanded that Israel fulfill its existing obligations of the hostage-ceasefire deal, including the withdrawal of IDF troops from the Philadelphi Corridor. 

After sharing some of the terms of his proposal in Doha last week, Witkoff issued a warning to the terror group. 

“Hamas is making a very bad bet that time is on its side. It is not. Hamas is well aware of the deadline, and should know that we will respond accordingly if that deadline passes,” he said, regarding a U.S. deadline that Witkoff claimed he had given Hamas for the Alexander's release.

Witkoff also accused Hamas of being “impractical” in its demands. 

“Hamas has chosen to respond by publicly claiming flexibility while privately making demands that are entirely impractical without a permanent ceasefire,” the U.S. envoy stated. 

WATCH 🔴

Witkoff: Hmas's response is unacceptable. I would suggest they see what we did to the Houthis. Their window of opportunity is closing. pic.twitter.com/UUbmhFAHv7

— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) March 16, 2025

Netanyahu’s office reported that Israel had accepted the Witkoff proposal and accused Hamas of “manipulations and psychological warfare.” 

“While Israel accepted the Witkoff framework, Hamas remains entrenched in its refusal and hasn’t moved an inch," the statement read. "Meanwhile, it continues to employ manipulations and psychological warfare.”  

Channel 13 reported that alongside discussion of the negotiations, during the meeting on Saturday evening, Netanyahu was presented with several options for resuming military operations.  

At the same time, government sources told The Jerusalem Post that Israel has expanded the bank of potential Hamas targets ahead of a possible return to fighting. 

“This target bank will enable the government to escalate operations in stages to apply pressure on Hamas leadership if negotiations for a hostage release stall,” the sources told the JPost.