Hostage talks collapse as Israel and Hamas both announce withdrawal

Key sticking points in the talks reportedly include the extent of IDF withdrawals from Gaza, the mechanism for the delivery of humanitarian aid and a demand from the group that Israel promises not to restart military operations once a proposed 60-day truce expires.

However, Israel now also appears to have decided not to engage in further discussions, according to far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.

"There will be no more negotiations with Hamas on a deal for the release of hostages,” the Religious Zionism leader told a conference last night.

"From here on, the only possible deal is a total surrender of Hamas, the unconditional return of all our hostages, the dismantling of its armed force, the demilitarization of Gaza, the exile of the head of Hamas and to allow all those who want to leave Gaza to do so.”

He also pointed blame for the decision at European leaders, including UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who have expressed their intention to recognise a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly in September.

He said: “The left-wing protests and the media campaign benefitted Hamas and made it harden its stance, as did the leaders of Europe that blew wind into its sails and promised it that if it only holds out and waits a little longer, the reality in Gaza will remain unchanged.

"I say this also to those of us who thought it was the right thing to do. That's it. It's over.

“There's a limit to how much we can humiliate our national dignity. There's a limit to how long we can beg those Nazis for a deal. To how much we can compromise, more and more and more and to let them fool us.”

The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office is yet to comment on Smotrich’s claims.

That being said, Netanyahu has previously rebuked ministers over their comments on the war, including saying that Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu “does not speak for the government” after he told a Charedi radio station that Jerusalem is looking to “wipe out Gaza”.

"He is not a member of the Security Cabinet that determines the conduct of the war,” added Netanyahu in that instance.

In this case, though, Smotrich is a member of the Security Cabinet so it is unclear whether the disengagement from the negotiations in an official government policy.