Israeli media: Ceasefire talks on the verge of breakdown, Israel considers expanding military operations

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu met with visiting US Special Envoy for the Middle East Witkov on Thursday (July 31). Israeli media later reported that the Israeli side believes the ceasefire negotiations in the Gaza Strip are on the verge of breakdown and is considering expanding military operations to achieve the "demilitarization" of the Gaza Strip.

According to the media, Netanyahu talked with Witkov for nearly three hours. A senior Israeli official told the Israel Today newspaper, the New News website and other media that given Hamas' position and the near-failure of the ceasefire negotiations, both Israel and the United States have agreed not to seek an agreement on a short-term ceasefire and the release of some hostages, but to instead seek a comprehensive solution, that is, to disarm Hamas, demilitarize the Gaza Strip and release all hostages. The Israeli official also said that the Hamas side has "cut off contact".

The Jerusalem Post reported on the same day, citing an Israeli source, that within the Israeli government, it is believed that Hamas is unlikely to soften its stance. The ceasefire talks in Gaza are on the verge of breakdown, and it seems "inevitable" for Israel to expand its military operations in the Gaza Strip at present.

According to The Times of Israel, citing Arab diplomats and other sources, Hamas negotiators in Doha, the capital of Qatar, told mediators that Hamas has "no interest" in resuming ceasefire talks until the hunger crisis in the Gaza Strip eases.

On July 24, Witkov and the Israeli Prime Minister's Office respectively announced that in light of Hamas' response to the ceasefire plan, the United States and Israel would recall their respective personnel involved in negotiations in Doha and consider "alternative options" for the ceasefire.

Israeli media also said that on August 1, Witkov will travel to the Gaza Strip to inspect the distribution points of aid supplies of the "Gaza Humanitarian Foundation".

Since late May, the above-mentioned private organizations, supported by the United States and Israel, have bypassed UN agencies and unilaterally taken over the distribution of aid supplies in the Gaza Strip, while the Israeli army has frequently opened fire on Palestinian people near the aid points.