As William Burns, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), prepares to engage in a new round - which may be the last - of negotiations with his Qatari and Egyptian counterparts this week with the aim of releasing Israeli prisoners, the release of hundreds of Palestinian families, and an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire, an officer expressed... An Israeli soldier involved in the indirect negotiations regarding the hostage deal with Hamas expressed his frustration with the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to a report issued by the Israeli Channel 12.

The report stated that Major General Nitzan Alon told Israeli military officials that Israel would not reach an agreement with Hamas under the current government. “We are desperate,” he added. “With this government formation, there will be no agreement.”

Alon also made it clear that it would be possible to resume military operations in Gaza even if Israel agrees to a deal that includes commitment to a permanent ceasefire, which is the main demand of Hamas. Netanyahu has repeatedly rejected the idea and continues to pledge that he will “eliminate” Hamas, a goal the United States believes is unrealistic.

“The agreement I am pushing for would stipulate the return of all hostages, while Hamas insists it must stipulate an end to the war,” Alsoson said. “I told the Prime Minister that it would be possible to return to combat at any moment.”

In response to the report, the Israeli occupation forces insisted that Alon had been taken out of context. "The general. IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari said: “Alon was asked by the public about the influence of the political leadership on the talks, and he replied that as a soldier in uniform, he cannot answer such questions.”

Netanyahu's office issued a statement criticizing Alon's statements. The office said: “The clashes within the negotiating team will only strengthen Hamas’ position, harm families, and prevent the release of our hostages.”

Hostage deal negotiations have stopped since Israel launched its invasion of the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, which it began by controlling the Rafah crossing on the Egyptian border. Reports say negotiations are expected to continue this week after CIA Director William Burns met with Mossad chief David Barnea and Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani.