JERUSALEM, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Israel's political leadership has instructed the army to prepare for an immediate resumption of fighting in Gaza, the state-owned Kan TV News reported on Friday.
The channel quoted Israeli officials as saying that Hamas has shown no willingness to advance the proposal put forward by U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff. The proposal outlines the release of the remaining 59 hostages -- both living and deceased -- in two phases: approximately half at the outset, with the remainder freed after 50 days, during which humanitarian aid to Gaza would be increased.
According to the channel, the directive for the Israeli army came due to the stalemate in negotiations between Israel and Hamas on the second phase of the deal.
It added that Israel does not intend to negotiate an end to the war as stipulated in the agreement.
Security officials have cautioned that resuming hostilities could endanger the remaining hostages. However, Israeli leadership believes that the ongoing blockade on humanitarian aid to Gaza is exerting pressure that may facilitate additional hostage releases, the report said.
The channel also reported that senior Israeli officials expressed anger towards their American counterparts over direct talks between U.S. Presidential envoy for hostage affairs, Adam Boehler, and senior Hamas officials -- discussions that Israel was informed of only after they took place.
"The Americans are going over our heads to put pressure on us too," an Israeli official told Kan TV.
On Thursday, Witkoff said there was a date for a return to fighting if agreements were not reached, but did not specify it.
The fighting between Israel and Hamas was halted on Jan. 19 with the entry into force of a ceasefire-hostage agreement.
The deal's first phase was completed with nine swaps of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, but no agreements were reached on the continuation of the swaps and a permanent end to the fighting. ■
