U.S. Makes Final Push for Gaza Hostage Deal as Israel Calls Talks Futile
U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff’s meeting with Qatar’s Prime Minister in Spain to negotiate a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release was deemed futile by an Israeli official, as Hamas rejects disarmament and insists on a sovereign Palestinian state. The ongoing impasse highlights deep divisions, with Hamas prioritizing armed resistance over diplomatic solutions.
Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff met Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani in Ibiza, Spain, to negotiate a plan to end the Gaza war and secure the release of 49 hostages held by Hamas. The proposed deal includes a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, the release of all hostages, disarmament of terrorist groups, expulsion of senior Hamas leaders abroad, and establishment of a professional government under a supervised police force. However, an Israeli official dismissed the effort as “futile,” stating, “Our war is with Hamas, not with the US. The gap between us and Hamas regarding the end of the war is vast, and therefore discussions about a comprehensive deal are futile at this stage.”
The official’s scepticism stems from Hamas’s rejection of key terms. During Witkoff’s Israel visit the prior week, he claimed Hamas was open to disarming as part of a ceasefire. Hamas swiftly denied this, declaring, “The resistance and its weapons are a national and legal obligation as long as the occupation continues.” The group insists armed resistance is a right “enshrined in international conventions and custom, and it cannot be relinquished until all our national rights are restored, foremost among them the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with full sovereignty, with Jerusalem (al-Quds) as its capital.” Hamas leaders have previously stated their al-Qassam Brigades would only disband upon achieving statehood, integrating into a Palestinian army.
The talks follow a pattern of stalled negotiations, with Hamas rejecting five ceasefire proposals since January 2025, per Israeli Foreign Ministry data. Social media on X reflects frustration, with one user posting, “Hamas’s refusal to disarm shows they prioritize violence over peace.” The war, sparked by Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack killing 1,189, has led to 60,000 Palestinian deaths, per Gaza’s Health Ministry. Qatar’s mediation, praised by Witkoff as “critical” on The Tucker Carlson Show, faces challenges as Hamas demands concessions Israel deems unacceptable, dimming hopes for a resolution.