A former Israeli official has offered a dual strategy as “the only way” to free the remaining hostages caught by Hamas terrorists during the attacks of 7 October 2023.
“Today, in my estimate, Israel must declare that it is no longer willing to negotiate as it has been. Then it must do two things at the same time,” Yossi Amrusi, a former Senior Shin Bet officer, told Israeli Outlet Maariv, a sister publication, The Jerusalem Post.
“First, pushes as much as possible for the separation of Hamas Gazanen by designated humanitarian zones,” he said. “That will also lead to control over humanitarian aid, so that Hamas does not reach. And secondly, because an estimated hostage locations are known – we have to perform local negotiations with those who hold the hostages. Offer money and their lives in exchange.”
Amrusi argued that Hamas benefits from the long -term negotiations and wondered if someone who continues to be in Gaza have the authority to make decisions.
Israel announces immediate resumption of Gaza Aid AirDrops in the midst of the growing hunger crisis
The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks to the public at a conference in Jerusalem on Sunday 27 July 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
“A smart Persian trader once told me in the market:” You will win the deal when you are willing to lose it. ” And why? “One, Hamas benefits from pulling out things. It continues to hold the key to the survival, and in the meantime knows what knows what can happen? European pressure, a false hunger campaign, Trump can turn to Israel, internal pressure on the government. All these, and each in itself, are good for them.”
He also expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of Qatar as a negotiating party.
“I am not sure if Qatar, the mediator, even has the ability to decide something. And it is not even certain if they have communication with Hamas’s internal leadership for consultation and decision -making,” Amrusi said. “It is important to ask: is there anyone in Hamas’ Gaza who can make decisions? Who has control over those who hold the hostages? Do they even know where they are and in which state they are? Some hostages are not even in their hands.”
“I have always said that Hamas will let go of the hostages when we force them to release them,” he continued, “but we don’t know how to do that. Military pressure is not fully exerted, and the hands of our soldiers are quite bound. We bring humanitarian aid to that Hamas – oxygen, fuel and money.”
Protesters outside the American embassy location in Tel Aviv who demanded the end of the war and immediate release of Hamas hostages on Saturday 26 July 2025. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illan)
“Restrictions and fears of the government stop the opening of immigration offices and the establishment of humanitarian zones. We just don’t know how to win,” Amrusi added.
The US and Israel drew their negotiating teams from Doha, Qatar on Thursday.
The special envoy Steve Witkoff of the US said on Friday that the decision came after Hamas’ last answer “clearly shows a lack of desire to achieve a ceasefiring -the fire in Gaza.”
Hamas loses iron grip on Gaza, because the group supported by the US gets help for Palestinians in Nood
“Although the mediators have made a great effort, Hamas does not seem to be coordinated or act in good faith,” Witkoff wrote on X. “We will now consider taking alternative options to bring the hostages home and try to create a more stable environment for the people of Gaza.
In a statement from his office, the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Witkoff repeated and said, “Hamas is the obstacle for a hostage release.”
“Together with our American allies, we are now considering taking alternative options to bring our hostages home, to end Hamas’ terror and to secure permanent peace for Israel and our region,” he said.
Egypt and Qatar, who mediate the conversations next to the United States, said the break was only temporary and would resume conversations, although they did not say when.
President Donald Trump, center, meets British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria Starmer in Turnberry, Scotland, on Monday, July 28, 2025. (Christopher Furlong/Pool -Photo via AP)
The British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was determined to help the US help a greater role to help what he called a “desperate situation”, in the midst of increasing reports of starvation in Gaza as the Israel-Hamas War Rages.
Trump initially complained that the US had not received enough credit for previously providing food aid. He shifted his tone when reporters interviewed him about images of emaciated children from Gaza.
When asked if he agreed with the recent comments from Netanyahu about worries about mass hunger in Gaza who became exaggerated, he replied: “I don’t know. I mean, based on television, I would not say special because those children look very hungry.”
Starmer added: “I think people in Britain are revolting to see what they see on their screens.”
Trump said that Israel has “a lot of responsibility” for what happens, but is impeded by what his actions could mean for the prospects of Israeli hostages Hamas since attacked in 2023.
“I think Israel can do a lot,” said Trump, add Netanyahu, “I want him to make sure they get the food.”
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In the meantime, Israel has maintained that it is doing what it is possible to get humanitarian aid to Gazanen. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country shared a video On Tuesday about what it says, Hamas is “fierce” tool “, loves citizens.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also called great media for sharing an image of a merged Palestinian child, which implies that the boy’s condition is the result of hunger. Israel identified the boy as Osama Al-Raqab, who suffers from cystic fibrosis. The ministry said that Israel enabled him to go to Italy for treatment, while the media used his appearance to demonize the Jewish state.
“This is what a modern blood defamation looks like,” the ministry said.
The Associated Press has contributed to this report.
