Negotiations break down: Israeli delegation leaves Qatar after Hamas rejects latest Israeli proposal

The Israeli team negotiating with Hamas over a hostage deal was ordered to return home after the terror organization rejected Israel’s latest proposal, which included significant concessions on several points, Israeli media reported on Tuesday morning.

“Hamas’ demands are delusional,” a political source told KAN News after Mossad Director David Barnea ordered the Israeli team to leave Qatar, where negotiations took place for the past 10 days.

“They refuse to consider a staggered proposal, the release of the hostages, and demand the withdrawal of IDF forces from Gaza - all these demands will preserve terrorism and the security threat. With such an answer - at the moment, it’s impossible to move forward,” the source said.

Hamas stated on Monday night that it had informed mediators that it would not budge from its position in response to the latest Israeli proposal.

“Israel’s response did not meet any of our basic demands - a comprehensive ceasefire, withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, the return of the displaced, and a real exchange of prisoners,” the terror group said.

“[Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu and his extremist government bear full responsibility for thwarting all negotiation efforts and obstructing reaching an agreement so far,” Hamas officials added.

The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) responded with an official statement on Tuesday morning.

“Hamas’s position clearly proves that Hamas is not interested in continuing negotiations for a deal, and is an unfortunate testimony to the damage of the Security Council’s decision.”

The Hamas announcement came shortly after the U.S. decision to abstain on a UN resolution that called for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, a move that was heavily criticized by Netanyahu and praised by Hamas.

“Hamas refused any American compromise proposal, and also welcomed the Security Council's decision,” the PMO’s Tuesday statement continued. “Israel will not submit to the delusional demands of Hamas, and will continue to act to achieve all the goals of the war.”

Netanyahu said on Monday that the resolution “gives Hamas hope that international pressure will force Israel to accept a ceasefire without the release of our hostages, thus harming both the war effort and the effort to release the hostages.”

Despite Israel’s decision to pull its negotiating team, CNN reported on Tuesday that the U.S. intermediaries would stay in Qatar for the time being.

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh left Qatar on Tuesday reportedly to travel to Iran and meet with leaders of the Mullah regime, one of Hamas’ largest sponsors, according to Iranian media reports.