Israel negotiations 'stuck' as hostage families warned chances of new releases slim
Israel confirmed last week that 136 people remain in Hamas's hands after a week-long ceasefire came to an explosive end on Friday.
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The families of Israeli hostages still in Gaza have been warned chances of them being freed are slowly dwindling.
A source familiar with the ongoing negotiations warned the talks are now "stuck" and officials in Israel are unsure whether a new way out of Gaza could be agreed.
Speaking to Israeli newspaper Haaretz, the insider said: "Today not much happened in the talks between the parties. The matter is stuck.
"Although the door hasn't been shut permanently, the atmosphere is pessimistic."
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday confirmed Israel has momentarily pulled out of talks with Hamas – effectively putting the 136 hostages still being kept in Gaza and their families back in limbo.
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Hamas militants captured 240 Israeli and Thai nationals during their incursion into southern Israel on October 7.
Dozens were released last week after over 50 days in captivity, including several women and children – but many more have yet to be freed.
The unidentified diplomat added: "It will take much time and effort to prepare the sides for another deal, especially with the intensification of the Israeli military operation in the background."
The ceasefire negotiated with the aid of the US and Qatar collapsed on Friday, with Israel claiming Hamas fighters had violated the agreement by targeting the country with rocket fire.
The Israeli military immediately retaliated and on Sunday launched its 10,000th air raid on Gaza since it declared war on Hamas on October 8.
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Hours into Israel's renewed bombardment, Gaza’s Hamas-run Health Ministry said 178 people were killed and dozens wounded on Friday. Israel said it struck more than 200 Hamas targets.
Up until the truce began, more than 13,300 Palestinians were killed in Israel’s assault, roughly two-thirds of them women and minors, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not differentiate between civilians and combatants.
A day earlier, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged Israeli officials to do more to protect Palestinian civilians as they seek to destroy Hamas.
Vice President Kamala Harris on Sunday once again recognized Israel's right to defend itself but said the Israeli government "must do more" to protect civilians.
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