Hostage deal negotiations are stuck, Israeli officials admitted to The Jerusalem Post on Tuesday however, "the issue can be resolved," one official said.
Regarding the release of additional hostages, in recent days, inquiries and ideas have been raised, but there was no real negotiation, two sources involved in the negotiations told the Post.
"Witkoff did have a conversation with Dermer, and the mediators – there were ideas and inquiries, but no real negotiation with Hamas," said one of the sources.
On Thursday, according to the agreement, Israel is supposed to receive the bodies of 4 hostages murdered by Hamas.
After Hamas's handling of the issue regarding the return of the body of Shiri Bibas, and the humiliating ceremony for the other murdered hostages – Kfir and Ariel Bibas, and Oded Lipshitz – Israel decided to delay the release of 600 terrorists who were supposed to be freed on Saturday until Hamas commits that in the expected release on Thursday, there will be no ceremony or desecration of the victims.
In the meantime, it seems that there has been no progress in talks for the release of other living hostages, either in the first phase or in discussions about the second phase of the deal.
Steve Witkoff canceled his planned visit to Israel
Steve Witkoff, Trump's special envoy, canceled his planned visit to Israel on Wednesday, and an Israeli official told The Jerusalem Post that the assessment is that if he comes to Israel and the countries in the region, as he had planned, it will not be before next week.