How Qatar Sabotaged a Hostage Breakthrough

Two weeks ago, Israel and Hamas were on the cusp of a significant hostage release agreement, only for Qatar to intervene at the last moment, stalling the negotiations.

According to Amir Bohbot’s report on Walla, Israel’s defense establishment believes Hamas showed rare flexibility, paving the way for a deal mediated by Egypt. However, Qatar’s suggestion to Hamas that a better agreement, including a years-long ceasefire, was possible prompted the terror group to backtrack.

Israel’s defense officials expressed frustration, noting that the Qatari intervention disrupted a critical opportunity to bring captives home.

Meanwhile, the IDF is intensifying its operations in Gaza, focusing on Rafah as part of a broader strategy to pressure Hamas. The military plans to expand ground operations across multiple fronts, aiming to eliminate terrorists, destroy infrastructure, and demolish tunnels.

Rafah, where an estimated 150 terrorists remain, is set to become a combat-free zone after being cleared, with Palestinian civilians relocated there under strict security checks. The IDF hopes this multi-pronged approach will force Hamas back to the negotiating table.

To support these efforts, Israel’s political leadership has approved the mobilization of several reserve brigades, though it’s unclear whether they will help the forces in Gaza or replace regular troops elsewhere. Reservists are preparing to report as the IDF assesses the scope of the call-up based on intelligence and situational updates.

On the humanitarian front, the IDF is bracing for a critical shortage of food in Gaza, with warehouse stocks expected to dip below emergency levels within two weeks.

To address this, the military is working to restore aid to IDF-controlled areas, ensuring Hamas does not control distribution. One option being explored is handing over aid distribution to foreign civilian companies backed by international organizations.