In a closed-door meeting with Likud party members at the Knesset, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed a bleak outlook on reaching a hostage release and ceasefire agreement with Hamas, despite the killing of the group’s leader, Yahya Sinwar. Netanyahu indicated that Sinwar’s successors might adopt an even more hardline stance, complicating any potential negotiations.

“We are working all the time to bring [the hostages] back,” Netanyahu said, according to a recording aired by Channel 12. He explained that partial solutions are being explored, though it remains uncertain if new opportunities will arise. “All those who want to succeed Sinwar will be more Sinwar than Sinwar,” he added, underscoring the challenges.

Despite continued efforts, Netanyahu acknowledged that Hamas’s demands — including an end to the war — remain unacceptable to Israel. He suggested that any shifts in Hamas’s stance might come only if they require “breathing space.” Among the limited options under discussion, Netanyahu hinted at offering brief pauses to allow hostages to be released, rather than a full-scale truce.

Netanyahu also downplayed reports of an Egyptian proposal involving a short ceasefire in exchange for four hostages, calling the offer “nonexistent,” despite indicating he would consider such terms immediately if they were real. “We are definitely looking here for partial deals,” Netanyahu said, emphasizing any progress would hinge on alignment with Israel’s national interests.

In related developments, Brig. Gen. Oren Setter, a high-ranking member of Israel’s negotiation team focused on hostage release efforts, announced his sudden resignation, as first reported by Israel’s Kan public broadcaster and later confirmed by the IDF. Setter, who served as a deputy to Maj. Gen. (res.) Nitzan Alon, left amid a persistent deadlock in negotiations.

The IDF acknowledged Setter’s efforts, saying that he “worked tirelessly to advance the efforts to return the hostages.” The statement noted that Setter may continue to assist the hostage operations team as needed in the future.

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