Netanyahu Echoes Witkoff: "Hamas is the Obstacle to a Deal"
Prime Minister Netanyahu reinforced the words of American envoy Witkoff, announcing that Hamas is the sole obstacle to a ceasefire and the release of hostages in Gaza.
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In a statement released by Netanyahu, he clarified that Israel is working in cooperation with the United States to examine alternative options for returning the hostages, toppling Hamas rule, and achieving long-term peace:
"Together with our allies in the United States, we are now examining additional alternatives to bring our hostages home, put an end to Hamas's reign of terror, and ensure lasting peace for Israel and the entire region."
His remarks come against the backdrop of deadlock in negotiations for a prisoner exchange agreement, and reports that Hamas rejected a proposal conveyed to it through Egyptian-American mediation. In Israel, there is a growing sense that Hamas is not interested in reaching an agreement – a trend that is also being reinforced by official American sources, such as Witkoff.
This represents an unusual series of statements from an American envoy, which largely adopts the position of the Israeli government – a move that indicates a shift in tone from Washington toward Hamas's conduct in the negotiations.