Middle East crisis: Israel recalls ceasefire negotiators from Qatar, claiming Hamas ‘not interested’ in talks – as it happened
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Netanyahu’s office said ‘Israel will not cave to Hamas’s delusional demands’, ending immediate attempts to negotiate a ceasefire and hostage release deal
Israel recalls negotiators from Qatar, claiming Hamas 'not interested' in talks and lamenting 'damage' caused by UN ceasefire vote
Israel has recalled its negotiating team from Qatar, ending immediate attempts to negotiate a ceasefire and hostage release deal with Hamas. The move comes in the wake of a UN security council vote demanding a ceasefire, and Hamas rejecting the latest proposals.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said in a statement that “Israel will not cave to Hamas’s delusional demands.”
It said the Hamas position was “clear proof it is not interested in continuing talks, and a sad testament to the damage caused by the UN Security Council resolution.”
Late on Monday evening Hamas has issued a statement rejecting the latest deal offer, saying Israel was not responding to its core demands of a “comprehensive ceasefire, an withdrawal from the Strip, the return of displaced people and a real prisoner exchange.”
Earlier on Tuesday, Israel’s foreign minister Israel Katz said Hamas had been emboldened to reject a deal by the vote for a ceasefire at the UN security council, and had been sent the message “you don’t have to hurry” because international pressure was being bought to bear on Israel.
The UN security council resolution that passed on Monday demanded an immediate ceasefire for the month of Ramadan, and also demanded the release of hostages by Hamas. It was the first time a resolution about an Israel-Gaza war ceasefire avoided being vetoed by one of the US, China or Russia. After the UN vote, Benjamin Netanyahu’s office cancelled a planned visit to Washington by two of his ministers.
A repeated sticking point in ceasefire negotiations is reported to be a Hamas demand that Israel withdraw from Gaza militarily during the ceasefire.
The Times of Israel reported an Israeli source told it “There is no one to talk to on the other side and the Israeli negotiating team has nothing to do in Qatar.”
It is 4pm in Gaza and Tel Aviv. Here is a summary of events today
Israel has recalled its negotiating team from Qatar, ending immediate attempts to negotiate a ceasefire and hostage release deal with Hamas. The move comes in the wake of a UN security council vote demanding a ceasefire, and Hamas rejecting the latest proposals.
In a statement, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said “Israel will not cave to Hamas’s delusional demands”. It said the Hamas position was “clear proof it is not interested in continuing talks, and a sad testament to the damage caused by the UN Security Council resolution.”
Late on Monday night Hamas issued a statement rejecting the latest deal offer. It Israel was not responding to its core demands of a “comprehensive ceasefire, an withdrawal from the Strip, the return of displaced people and a real prisoner exchange.”
The moves follow the UN security council on Mondaypassing a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, and the release of the 134 hostages believed to still be held there by Hamas and other groups. It was the first time a resolution about an Israel-Gaza war ceasefire avoided being vetoed by one of the US, China or Russia.
The lack of a US veto angered Netanyahu, who cancelled a planned visit to Washington by two of his ministers. Israel’s foreign minister Israel Katz said Hamas had been emboldened to reject a deal by the vote, and had been sent the message “you don’t have to hurry” because international pressure was being bought to bear on Israel.
A planned cabinet discussion in Israel on a proposed bill to extend compulsory military service to ultra-Orthodox students has been postponed at the last minute.
UN humanitarian office (OCHA) spokesperson Jens Laerke told a UN briefing Tuesday that Israel “cannot claim to adhere” to internation law while blocking Unrwa food convoys. Israel has said it will no longer work the the UN’s agency for Palestinian refugees, accusing Unrwa of collaborating with Hamas in Gaza – a charge Unrwa has denied.
At least 32,414 Palestinians have now been killed in Israel’s military offensive on Gaza since 7 October, the Hamas-led Gaza health ministry said on Tuesday. It has not been possible for journalists to independently verify the casualty figures being issued during the conflict.
Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that 30 Palestinians were killed by an Israeli airstrike near the al-Shifa hospital. It follows earlier reports that 18 people were killed in a strike on Rafah, including nine children. In its daily operational briefing earlier today, Israel’s military said it had carried out strikes on 60 targets in the last 24 hours, which it claimed were aimed at terrorist infrastructure.
Israel’s military has said there were no casualties but that a fire broke out in the northern community of Avivim after what it described as “three launches” from Lebanon. The IDF also said that “launches were identified from Lebanon toward the IDF aerial control unit in the area of Meron in northern Israel,” but there were no injuries or damage.
A proposed bill to extend compulsory military service to ultra-Orthodox students, historically exempt from conscription, has ignited a fierce debate in Israel. Netanyahu has reportedly warning that failure to pass the law could jeopardise the stability of the government. A protest for military service equality was being held in Jerusalem on Tuesday.
Doha-based Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh has been greeted in Tehran by Iran’s foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian. It is Haniyeh’s second visit to Iran since 7 October.
The UK Home Office is investigating allegations that two Israeli survivors of the 7 October attacks were subjected to antisemitic comments by a Border Force officer upon their arrival at Manchester airport.
It has been announced that Israel’s Tel Aviv will no longer host the 2025 European championships in artistic gymnastics, due to “the current situation in Israel”.
Reporters Jason Burke, Aseel Mousa and Malak A Tantesh have this despatch on Al-Mawasi, a narrow strip of coastline at the southernmost end of the territory designated as a “humanitarian zone” by the Israeli military. They write:
In October, just weeks after the beginning of the war in Gaza, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) designated al-Mawasi a “humanitarian area” and told residents of Gaza to evacuate there to avoid being caught up in the offensive launched following Hamas’s attacks into southern Israel which killed 1,200, mostly civilians. The IDF promised “international humanitarian aid will be provided as needed”.
More recently, during fighting around al-Shifa hospital 10 days ago, the IDF told communities around the combat zone to evacuate “to the humanitarian zone in al-Mawasi”.
But any safety in al-Mawasi is only relative to the rest of the territory, where more than 32,000 have died, mostly women and children, during the relentless Israeli offensive, according to local health authorities.
Rafah, the southernmost town of Gaza where another million displaced people are sheltering, is just 4km inland from al-Mawasi, and in the crosshairs of the IDF, who believe thousands of Hamas militants remain there.
A planned cabinet discussion in Israel on a proposed bill to extend compulsory military service to ultra-Orthodox students has been postponed at the last minute.
The proposal for ultra-Orthodox students, who are historically exempt from conscription, has ignited a fierce debate in the country and triggered political pressure from ultra-Orthodox party leaders.
According to media reports, the postponement occurred after Prime Minister Netanyahu met with ultra-Orthodox party leaders ‘’who threatened not to attend and not to support the draft law”.
Israel has mandatory army service but for decades made an exemption for ultra-Orthodox Jews, also known as Haredi, who are allowed to continue full-time Torah study.
The proposal seeks to extend the duration of military service for conscripts and raise the age for reservists, while also urging an end to the customary exemptions granted to yeshiva students.
Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly warned that failure to pass the law could jeopardise the stability of the government.
In his weekly Saturday night sermon, Israel’s Sephardi chief rabbi, Yitzhak Yosef, said Haredim would leave Israel en masse if their exemption from compulsory service was not renewed.
Netanyahu now finds himself in the midst of a political crisis both within his coalition and internationally after Monday’s UN Security Council vote calling for an immediate ceasefire.
It is 2pm in Gaza and Tel Aviv. Here are the headlines …
Israel has recalled its negotiating team from Qatar, ending immediate attempts to negotiate a ceasefire and hostage release deal with Hamas. The move comes in the wake of a UN security council vote demanding a ceasefire, and Hamas rejecting the latest proposals.
In a statement, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said “Israel will not cave to Hamas’s delusional demands”. It said the Hamas position was “clear proof it is not interested in continuing talks, and a sad testament to the damage caused by the UN Security Council resolution.”
Late on Monday night Hamas issued a statement rejecting the latest deal offer. It Israel was not responding to its core demands of a “comprehensive ceasefire, an withdrawal from the Strip, the return of displaced people and a real prisoner exchange.”
The moves follow the UN security council on Mondaypassing a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, and the release of the 134 hostages believed to still be held there by Hamas and other groups. It was the first time a resolution about an Israel-Gaza war ceasefire avoided being vetoed by one of the US, China or Russia.
The lack of a US veto angered Netanyahu, who cancelled a planned visit to Washington by two of his ministers. Israel’s foreign minister Israel Katz said Hamas had been emboldened to reject a deal by the vote, and had been sent the message “you don’t have to hurry” because international pressure was being bought to bear on Israel.
UN humanitarian office (OCHA) spokesperson Jens Laerke told a UN briefing Tuesday that Israel “cannot claim to adhere” to internation law while blocking Unrwa food convoys. Israel has said it will no longer work the the UN’s agency for Palestinian refugees, accusing Unrwa of collaborating with Hamas in Gaza – a charge Unrwa has denied.
At least 32,414 Palestinians have now been killed in Israel’s military offensive on Gaza since 7 October, the Hamas-led Gaza health ministry said on Tuesday. It has not been possible for journalists to independently verify the casualty figures being issued during the conflict.
Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that 30 Palestinians were killed by an Israeli airstrike near the al-Shifa hospital. It follows earlier reports that 18 people were killed in a strike on Rafah, including nine children. In its daily operational briefing earlier today, Israel’s military said it had carried out strikes on 60 targets in the last 24 hours, which it claimed were aimed at terrorist infrastructure.
Israel’s military has said there were no casualties but that a fire broke out in the northern community of Avivim after what it described as “three launches” from Lebanon. The IDF also said that “launches were identified from Lebanon toward the IDF aerial control unit in the area of Meron in northern Israel,” but there were no injuries or damage.
A proposed bill to extend compulsory military service to ultra-Orthodox students, historically exempt from conscription, has ignited a fierce debate in Israel. Netanyahu has reportedly warning that failure to pass the law could jeopardise the stability of the government. A protest for military service equality was being held in Jerusalem on Tuesday.
Doha-based Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh has been greeted in Tehran by Iran’s foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian. It is Haniyeh’s second visit to Iran since 7 October.
The UK Home Office is investigating allegations that two Israeli survivors of the 7 October attacks were subjected to antisemitic comments by a Border Force officer upon their arrival at Manchester airport.
It has been announced that Israel’s Tel Aviv will no longer host the 2025 European championships in artistic gymnastics, due to “the current situation in Israel”.
The UK Home Office is investigating allegations that two Israeli survivors of the 7 October Hamas terror attacks were subjected to antisemitic comments by a Border Force officer upon their arrival at Manchester airport.
The Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester & Region (JRC) has claimed the two men, brothers who had survived the Hamas assault on the Nova music festival in Re’im, were told by one officer after being detained that they had to “make sure that you are not going to do what you are doing in Gaza over here” as they were released.
The men, who arrived in Manchester from Brussels on 24 March to raise money for a not-for-profit organisation, were detained for two hours and it is alleged they were subjected to an aggressive tone that was “unnecessary and demeaning”.
James Cleverly, the home secretary, confirmed on social media that the claims were being investigated by his department, the Home Office.
Protesters hold flags as they are standing on a model of a tank during a demonstration calling for equality in military service near the official prime minister’s office in Jerusalem on 26 March. Photograph: Amir Levy/Getty Images
Protesters bring donkeys to a demonstration calling for equality in military service in Jerusalem. Photograph: Amir Levy/Getty Images
It has been announced that Israel’s Tel Aviv will no longer host the 2025 European championships in artistic gymnastics. Reuters reports the sports governing body “acknowledge the efforts done by the Israeli gymnastics federation, the excellent host of several European Championships in the past eight years” but that it was re-opening bids for next year’s event due to “the current situation in Israel”.
Here is a photograph showing the Doha-based Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh being greeted in Tehran by Iran’s foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.
Iran's foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian (R) receives Hamas' Doha-based political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh at the foreign ministry headquarters in Tehran on 26 March. Photograph: AFP/Getty Images
UN humanitarian office spokesperson: Israel 'cannot claim to adhere' to international law while blocking Unrwa food convoys
A UN humanitarian office (OCHA) spokesperson has said Israels decision not to allow the UN’s relief and works agency (Unrwa) to deliver food to the north of the Gaza Strip must be revoked.
Saying people there were facing a “cruel death by famine”, Reuters reports Jens Laerke told a UN briefing “The decision must be revoked. You cannot claim to adhere to these international provisions of law when you block UNRWA food convoys.”
On Sunday the head of Unrwa said Israel was refusing to co-operate with the organisation to deliver food to the north of the Gaza Strip, which a coalition of aid agencies has said faces iminent famine.
Yesterday, Israeli government spokesperson David Mencer said “Unrwa are part of the problem, and we will now stop working with them. We are actively phasing out the use of Unrwa because they perpetuate the conflict rather than try and alleviate the conflict.”
32,414 Palestinians killed by Israel's military campaign in Gaza since 7 October – ministry
At least 32,414 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s military offensive on Gaza since 7 October, the Gaza health ministry said on Tuesday.
Reuters reports that the Hamas-led ministry said there were 81 Palestinians killed and 93 injured in the past 24 hours. It has not been possible for journalists to independently verify the casualty figures being issued during the conflict.
Palestinians mourn victims of an Israeli airstrike in Rafah on 26 March. Photograph: Haitham Imad/EPA
The UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has not had an “immediate impact on talks on the crisis in Doha” Reuters reports Qatar foreign ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday.
Majed Al-Ansari made the comments in Doha, where, according to Al Jazeera, he also said “We are still upbeat, from day one we have been positive. Our mediation effort will continue. We cooperate with all the regional and international partners.”
The comments appear to be quite contradictory to statements issued by Hamas and Israel since the UN security vote in New York on Monday.
Hamas said on Monday Israel was not responding to its core demands of a “comprehensive ceasefire, an withdrawal from the Strip, the return of displaced people and a real prisoner exchange.”
A statement from Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said “Israel will not address Hamas’s delusional demands” adding “Hamas’s stance clearly demonstrates its utter disinterest in a negotiated deal and attests to the damage done by the UN Security Council’s resolution”. Israel has recalled its negotiating team.
Israel’s foreign minister Israel Katz said early on Tuesday that “The message delivered to Hamas yesterday [at the UN] is that you don’t have to hurry.”
Speaking to Israeli army radio Katz said the UN resolution indicated to Hamas that international pressure was closing in on Israel and that it need only wait for the war to end through that pressure rather than agreeing to make any concessions.
AFP has spoken to two people in Gaza about the humanitarian aid they are receiving by air-drop.
One of them, Mohamad al-Sabaawi, returning from an attempt to retrieve some air-dropped parcels, told the news agency “People are dying just to get a can of tuna. The situation is tragic, as if we are in a famine. What can we do? They mock us by giving us a small can of tuna.”
The agency said dozens of black parachutes carrying food aid had landed on the ground where almost no building within sight was still standing, and hungry men and boys raced towards the beach where most of the aid seemed to have landed. Al-Sabaawi was carrying an almost empty bag on his shoulder.
Another Palestinian man, returning home in Gaza City with little to keep his family going, said their situation was miserable.
“We are the people of Gaza, waiting for aid drops, willing to die to get a can of beans - which we then share among 18 people,” he said.
This handout photograph, taken from inside Israel, shows a US air force plane carrying out a humanitarian aid drop over Gaza last week. Photograph: Amir Levy/Getty Images
Here is the text of the statement from Benjamin Netanyahu’s office this morning:
Hamas’s stance clearly demonstrates its utter disinterest in a negotiated deal and attests to the damage done by the UN Security Council’s resolution.
Hamas has once again rejected a American compromise proposal and has repeated its extreme demands: An immediate halt to the war, the complete withdrawal of the IDF from the Gaza Strip and leaving in place its administration so that it can repeat, time and again, the massacre of 7 October, as it has promised to do.
Hamas rebuffed all US offers for a compromise, while celebrating the Security Council’s resolution.
Israel will not address Hamas’s delusional demands. Israel will pursue and achieve its just war objectives: Destroying Hamas’s military and governmental capacities, release of all the hostages, and ensuring Gaza will not pose a threat to the people of Israel in the future.
Israel reports fire breaks out in Avivim after launches from inside Lebanon
Israel’s military has said there were no casualties but that a fire broke out in the northern community of Avivim after what it described as “three launches” from Lebanon.
It said fire services were in attendance. Avivim is adjacent to the UN-drawn blue line which has sparated Israel and Lebanon since 2000. Israel and anti-Israeli forces have consistently exchanged fire over the blue line since 7 October.
The IDF update on Telegram also said that “launches were identified from Lebanon toward the IDF aerial control unit in the area of Meron in northern Israel.”
It said there were no injuries or “damage to the unit’s capabilities”. The air traffic base at Meron is considered a sensitive target, and it has been attacked several times during the war by fire from inside Lebanon.
In Haaretz, Alon Pinkas has written that the US abstention at the UN yesterday was a predictable result of prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s failure to engage with US criticism of his policies. Pinkas writes:
Netanyahu deliberately preferred a showdown with the world and the US. He managed to turn a just war and an imperative, justifiably harsh retaliation into world condemnation.
In terms of the security council, Israel will conveniently tell itself that the resolution is not a big deal, there will be no sanctions, the sun will shine today and, besides, the UN was always and remains anti-Israel.
[The deterioration of US-Israeli relations] under Netanyahu has been written about extensively and profusely over the past year, but the security council resolution is a new low.
For the past four months, the US has negatively revised its assessment of Israel under Netanyahu: He does not behave as an ally. He has accrued a debilitating credibility deficit over the years on a multitude of issues and behavioral patterns. He failed to come up with a plan for postwar Gaza – and he is seriously suspected of prolonging the war for his own political survival.
30 Palestinians reported killed in airstrike near al-Shifa hospital
Palestinian news agency Wafa is reporting that 30 Palestinians were killed by an Israeli airstrike near the al-Shifa hospital. It follows earlier reports that 18 people were killed in a strike on Rafah, including nine children.
In its daily operational briefing earlier today, Israel’s military said it had carried out strikes on 60 targets in the last 24 hours, which is claimed were aimed at terrorist infrastructure.
Images from the al-Najjar hospital in Rafah today have shown family members mourning over a number of bodies.
Palestinians from the Abu Nuqira family pray at Al-Najjar hospital next to relatives killed in an Israeli air strike in the Rafah refugee camp, 26 March. Photograph: Haitham Imad/EPA
It has not been possible for journalists to independently verify casualty figures being issued during the conflict.
On Monday, the UN security council voted to agree a call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Hamas has rejected a currently proposed deal, and Israel has recalled its negotiating team from Qatar where talks with mediators had been taking place.
Israel recalls negotiators from Qatar, claiming Hamas 'not interested' in talks and lamenting 'damage' caused by UN ceasefire vote
Israel has recalled its negotiating team from Qatar, ending immediate attempts to negotiate a ceasefire and hostage release deal with Hamas. The move comes in the wake of a UN security council vote demanding a ceasefire, and Hamas rejecting the latest proposals.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said in a statement that “Israel will not cave to Hamas’s delusional demands.”
It said the Hamas position was “clear proof it is not interested in continuing talks, and a sad testament to the damage caused by the UN Security Council resolution.”
Late on Monday evening Hamas has issued a statement rejecting the latest deal offer, saying Israel was not responding to its core demands of a “comprehensive ceasefire, an withdrawal from the Strip, the return of displaced people and a real prisoner exchange.”
Earlier on Tuesday, Israel’s foreign minister Israel Katz said Hamas had been emboldened to reject a deal by the vote for a ceasefire at the UN security council, and had been sent the message “you don’t have to hurry” because international pressure was being bought to bear on Israel.
The UN security council resolution that passed on Monday demanded an immediate ceasefire for the month of Ramadan, and also demanded the release of hostages by Hamas. It was the first time a resolution about an Israel-Gaza war ceasefire avoided being vetoed by one of the US, China or Russia. After the UN vote, Benjamin Netanyahu’s office cancelled a planned visit to Washington by two of his ministers.
A repeated sticking point in ceasefire negotiations is reported to be a Hamas demand that Israel withdraw from Gaza militarily during the ceasefire.
The Times of Israel reported an Israeli source told it “There is no one to talk to on the other side and the Israeli negotiating team has nothing to do in Qatar.”
