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The United States has resumed talks with Hamas after weeks of suspension, while families of Israeli hostages are pressing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to accept a new ceasefire proposal that Hamas has already approved, according to Israeli media reports.
Israel Hayom newspaper, citing American and Arab sources, reported on Saturday that Washington and Hamas have restarted communications in recent days, though the U.S. administration has indicated it will not impede Israel's military operations in Gaza.
The renewed dialogue comes after mediators Egypt and Qatar failed to reach a formula to end the war in Gaza, the newspaper reported.
U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed on Saturday that his administration is conducting intense negotiations with Hamas regarding a prisoner exchange, demanding the release of all hostages.
"We are conducting very intense negotiations with Hamas," Trump said in response to a question about Gaza, adding, "We told them, 'release all the hostages immediately, then much better things will happen. If you don't release them all, the situation will be very bad.'"
Trump indicated that negotiations involve 20 hostages and noted that they believe 30 hostages have died.
According to the Israeli media report, Washington's position is that "the war can only end with a comprehensive agreement that guarantees the release of all hostages."
The U.S. has conveyed to Israel that an urgent negotiation process must be initiated within this framework.
Despite the renewed talks, American sources emphasized that the U.S. will not prevent Israel's advance into Gaza.
Israeli hostage families are demanding that Netanyahu immediately send a negotiation team to discuss the new ceasefire and prisoner exchange proposal that Hamas has accepted.
In a statement from the umbrella platform established by Israeli hostage relatives, families noted that Netanyahu's government has not provided an official response to the new ceasefire proposal presented by mediators Egypt and Qatar, despite three weeks having passed.
"The Israeli government must accept the agreement that is already on the table and to which Hamas has responded positively, and immediately begin negotiations for a comprehensive agreement to ensure the release of all hostages," the statement emphasized.
The families accused Netanyahu of dragging the country into an "endless war" due to his political survival instincts and desire to maintain his coalition.
Family members of deceased Israeli hostage Carmel Gat held a press conference outside the Defense Ministry building in Tel Aviv, calling on Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir to halt the occupation assault on Gaza City.
"Don't fire bullets that will target a living hostage or bury a wounded soldier in the ground forever," said Gil Dickman, the hostage's cousin. "This is not the way to bring back hostages, but to kill them."
The families continue to appeal to Zamir to stop the occupation attacks on Gaza City that would risk hostages' lives.
Hamas announced on September 6 that it remains open to all proposals that would lead to a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
Despite Hamas responding positively to the new ceasefire proposal on August 18 through mediators Egypt and Qatar, Israel has not provided an official response to the new proposal, which is largely identical to the previously accepted U.S. proposal.
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