WorthyNews: Hostage Deal Stalls as Hamas Rejects Disarmament Demand, Netanyahu Speaks to Hostage Families

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by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke Monday evening with the parents of several hostages about ongoing hostage-ceasefire negotiations, according to his office. However, an Israeli official told The Jerusalem Post that a deal remains elusive, with “significant” gaps still dividing Hamas and Israel in the indirect talks.

Israel attributes Hamas’s increased willingness to negotiate to sustained IDF operations and military pressure, which have resulted in the capture of 30–40% of Gaza and the creation of a buffer zone. That zone is expected to extend over 5 kilometers from the Egyptian border to Khan Younis, while in other areas along the border, it has widened to about 2 kilometers.

Hamas has reportedly shifted from its earlier stance in negotiations, now expressing willingness to release nine Israeli hostages as part of a deal—an increase from its previous offer to release only one.

Speaking to The Jerusalem Post, an Israeli official said, “Despite some progress, it is very difficult to move forward with a deal. Hamas is expected to respond again in the coming days, but if they remain firm on the issue of guarantees, it’s hard to see the agreement happening.”

In a live interview with Al-Jazeera on Monday, Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri stated, “The draft that we received as part of the negotiations for a ceasefire in Gaza is an Israeli draft, and it includes, for the first time, the disarmament of Hamas as part of the negotiations of the second phase of the ceasefire.”

Abu Zuhri declared, “This is a million times a red line,” and said Hamas rejected the proposal. He added that Hamas is willing to release all hostages at once in exchange for an end to the war and a complete IDF withdrawal from Gaza.

However, if Hamas continues to reject disarmament, ending the war remains unlikely. Netanyahu has consistently declared that the destruction of Hamas is the war’s primary objective. While open to a hostage agreement, he remains firm in his commitment to that goal.

At the same time, Netanyahu is actively working to secure the release of the 59 hostages still held in Gaza. According to Israeli intelligence, 24 of them are believed to be alive.

Netanyahu spoke Monday evening with the mothers of hostages Tamir Nimrodi, Avinatan Or, and Eitan Horn, detailing ongoing efforts to secure their return and providing “updates on the existence of intensive negotiations currently underway,” according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office. The statement added that Netanyahu reiterated his “commitment to the return of all the hostages — both the living and the fallen.”

During a phone call Monday evening, Netanyahu informed the parents of hostage Eitan Mor that the government is working on a deal that could lead to the release of 10 remaining captives held by Gaza terror groups, according to the Tikva Forum.

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