With hostage negotiations in doubt, Netanyahu orders team to prepare for talks based on Witkoff proposal

After an in-depth discussion on the hostage situation with the negotiating team and security leaders, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed negotiators to prepare for further talks in Qatar. The discussions will be based on a proposal from special envoy Steve Witkoff, which, if accepted, would secure the immediate release of 11 living hostages along with half of the deceased.

The hostage negotiation team returned from Doha, Qatar on Friday, after meetings with the mediators and Witkoff. 

On Friday, Hamas had offered to release Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander, along with the bodies of four deceased Israeli-American hostages – Itay Chen, Omer Neutra, Gadi Haggai and Judy Weinstein – in return for a ceasefire extension and the release of more Palestinian security prisoners. 

The Hamas offer is seen as a clear rejection of the Witkoff proposal, and a hardening of the group’s insistence that phase two of the current hostage-ceasefire deal be implemented immediately. The second phase of the ceasefire was supposed to include negotiations towards a permanent ceasefire and the withdrawal of all Israeli forces from Gaza.

While the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) withdrew from certain areas, including key points such as the Netzarim Corridor, it has continued to maintain a presence in the Gaza Strip. 

A senior Palestinian member of Hamas told the Lebanese Al-Mayadeen TV that Israel “insists on the release of 10 live hostages before the start of negotiations regarding the second phase of the deal.” 

According to a report by Al Jazeera, Hamas not only rejected the Witkoff proposal but also submitted a lengthy list of "amendments." These included demands for the release of Palestinian security prisoners, the initiation of negotiations for the second phase of the deal, and guarantees of a permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

Additionally, Hamas demanded the reopening of the crossings into the Gaza Strip and the entry of humanitarian aid, which Israel suspended after Hamas refused to accept the first version of the Witkoff proposal. 

The terror group also demanded that Israel fulfill its existing obligations from the hostage-ceasefire deal, including the withdrawal from the Philadelphi Corridor. 

After sharing some of the terms of his proposal in Doha last week, Witkoff gave a warning to the terror group. 

“Hamas is making a very bad bet that time is on its side. It is not. Hamas is well aware of the deadline, and should know that we will respond accordingly if that deadline passes,” Witkoff said, regarding a U.S. deadline that Witkoff said he gave Hamas for the release of Edan Alexander. 

He also accused Hamas of being “impractical” in its demands. 

“Hamas has chosen to respond by publicly claiming flexibility while privately making demands that are entirely impractical without a permanent ceasefire,” Witkoff stated. 

WATCH 🔴

Witkoff: Hmas's response is unacceptable. I would suggest they see what we did to the Houthis. Their window of opportunity is closing. pic.twitter.com/UUbmhFAHv7

— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) March 16, 2025

Netanyahu’s office said that Israel had accepted the Witkoff proposal, and blamed Hamas for “manipulations and psychological warfare.” 

“While Israel accepted the Witkoff framework, Hamas remains entrenched in its refusal and hasn’t moved an inch," a statement from Netanyahu’s office said. "Meanwhile, it continues to employ manipulations and psychological warfare.”  

Channel 13 reported that alongside discussion of the negotiations, during the meeting Saturday evening, Netanyahu was presented with a number of options for resuming military operations.  

At the same time, government sources told the Jerusalem Post that Israel has expanded the bank of potential Hamas targets ahead of a possible return to fighting. 

“This target bank will enable the government to escalate operations in stages to apply pressure on Hamas leadership if negotiations for a hostage release stall,” the sources told the Post.