Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly considering a plan to annex territories in Gaza if Hamas does not agree to a ceasefire, according to sources familiar with the situation.
This development follows the U.S. decision to end ceasefire talks and withdraw its negotiation team from Doha, Qatar. The U.S. special envoy to the Middle East criticized Hamas for not acting in good faith during negotiations, signaling a shift toward exploring alternative strategies to secure the release of hostages and stabilize Gaza. Netanyahu has publicly blamed Hamas for the breakdown in talks and confirmed that Israel, alongside U.S. allies, is weighing other options to end Hamas’s control and ensure peace in the region.
Hamas responded by accusing the negotiators of bad faith and expressed that continuing talks under current conditions is pointless. The group claimed progress was made in recent negotiations on issues like withdrawal, prisoners, and aid, but condemned the sudden halt and accused negotiators of colluding with Israeli authorities. Hamas emphasized that the ongoing siege and humanitarian suffering in Gaza make further negotiations ineffective.