Sources: Mediators scramble to restore ceasefire as Israel resumes Gaza onslaught

Egypt and Qatar are seeking ways to restore calm following Israel’s renewed attacks on the Gaza Strip as it insists that Hamas release the remaining Israeli prisoners in its custody without further negotiation, according to a Hamas member and two informed Egyptian sources.

The Hamas source noted that Egypt is working to put forward a new emergency proposal that would see the group release a number of the Israeli prisoners still in the strip in exchange for a halt to the war and a number of aid deliveries after over two weeks of a total Israeli blockade.

But given the lack of flexibility in Israel’s stance, its renewed aggression is unlikely to conclude before the end of the month, said one of the Egyptian sources, an official who spoke on condition of anonymity. “We are doing whatever we can to stop the war and go back to the ceasefire,” the official continued.

Israel shattered the ceasefire on Tuesday morning, launching dozens of airstrikes on Gaza that killed over 400 Palestinians in a few hours, including more than 170 children.

Mediators conveyed to Hamas that Israel wants to retrieve all its prisoners without offering any guarantees to end the war, the source in the group said.

The Egyptian official likewise stated that they were concerned that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would seek a way out of the ceasefire.

Israel’s intention to resume the military aggression on the Gaza Strip was clear after the Israeli delegation’s last visit to Cairo earlier this week. The visit was aimed at presenting Israeli demands, rather than proceeding with ceasefire talks or formulating a plan for post-war Gaza, the source said. “It was just a matter of days before Israel would strike again,” they said. 

Netanyahu announced his decision to renew the assault on Gaza on Tuesday, saying Hamas had rejected the proposal put forward by US Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff to extend phase one of the agreement and have Hamas release half of the prisoners it still holds.

The Witkoff proposal represented a diversion from the January ceasefire agreement reached by the parties which stipulated Israel’s complete withdrawal from the strip in the second phase.

The Hamas source explained that the organization had nevertheless been willing to consider Witkoff’s proposal, demanding guarantees for an end of the war as a condition for accepting the altered deal.

Hamas announced on Saturday that it was willing to release US-Israeli soldier Edan Alexander, as well as the bodies of four other prisoners.

But Witkoff refused to offer any guarantees, the Egyptian official said.

A researcher at an Egyptian state-run research center explained to Mada Masr that Egypt attempted to persuade Hamas to agree to the plan anyway, even though the mediators had no clear plan regarding the second phase of the collapsed agreement except for a keenness to maintain the ceasefire and continue negotiations.

This approach left Hamas feeling it was being held responsible for the direction of the talks without Israel facing any pressure for derailing them, the researcher added.

Both Israel and the US threatened to use force if Hamas doesn’t comply with their demands for accelerated releases, with Witkoff calling Hamas’s response “completely unacceptable” on Sunday.

After Israel launched its bombing campaign on the strip — killing the highest number of children in a single day since the war began in October 2023, according to UNICEF — White House National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes told the Israeli media that Hamas could have released hostages to extend the ceasefire “but instead chose refusal and war.”

Meanwhile, the US holds Hamas “solely” responsible for the return to war, acting US Representative to the United Nations Dorothy Shea said on Tuesday, reiterating Washington's support for Tel Aviv's next steps.

Shea claimed that Hamas "has steadfastly refused every proposal and deadline they’ve been presented over the past few weeks” to extend the ceasefire, including the bridge proposal.

The Hamas source reiterated the group’s firm position in support of ending the war, the reconstruction of Gaza and the completion of the prisoner exchange deal.

Condemning Israel’s assault on the strip on Tuesday, Egypt called on the international community to intervene to put a stop to the aggression and prevent a renewed surge of violence in the region.

For his part, media advisor to the head of Hamas's political bureau Taher al-Nunu said today that his organization has not closed the door to negotiations, reiterating its commitment to the ceasefire agreement signed in January. “We insist there is no need for new agreements,” he added.