Israel pulls delegation from Doha, reaffirms resolve against Hamas

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reaffirmed that Israel will not make concessions to the militant group Hamas and remains committed to achieving all its objectives in the ongoing military operation in the Gaza Strip.

Speaking at a state ceremony marking the 85th anniversary of the death of Zionist leader Ze’ev Jabotinsky, Netanyahu stressed that Israel’s main goals include the return of hostages held by Hamas and the complete dismantling of the group’s military and political infrastructure in Gaza, per Caliber.Az.

“We are determined to bring home every hostage, and that is what we will do,” the prime minister said. “If Hamas perceives our willingness to reach an agreement as weakness, as an opportunity to dictate terms of surrender that will put Israel at risk, it is deeply mistaken. We are determined to achieve all the goals of the war,” he added.

Netanyahu’s remarks come amid renewed diplomatic activity surrounding efforts to broker a ceasefire. According to his office, Israel has received a new response from Hamas via international mediators regarding the latest proposal to halt fighting. In response, Netanyahu instructed the Israeli negotiating team to return from Doha — where talks have been taking place — for consultations in Israel.

The current proposal being discussed includes a 60-day ceasefire during which Hamas would release 10 living Israeli hostages and the bodies of 18 others who died in captivity. In exchange, Israel would free 150 Palestinian prisoners serving long-term sentences, as well as 1,100 individuals arrested in Gaza since the start of the Israeli military campaign in October 2023.

The framework also includes provisions for significantly increasing the volume of humanitarian aid reaching civilians in Gaza, one of the most pressing concerns raised by international mediators during the talks.

By Tamilla Hasanova