Hamas ties hostage talks to massive aid demand as US envoys highlight Gaza deliveries

Israeli official: “There is a growing understanding that Hamas is not interested in a deal.”

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

Hamas is demanding the entry of hundreds of aid trucks into the Gaza Strip each day as a precondition for resuming hostage negotiations, a source familiar with the talks told The Jerusalem Post.

Mediators were informed in recent days that Hamas will not engage with Israel unless there is a “significant improvement” in the humanitarian situation.

“We are in discussions with the Americans. As a result, the prime minister is pushing for the release of the hostages while pursuing a military resolution, combined with the provision of humanitarian aid to areas outside the combat zones and, to the extent possible, to regions not under Hamas control,” an Israeli official said.

The same official added, “There is a growing understanding that Hamas is not interested in a deal.”

The demand comes as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues talks with US envoy Steve Witkoff following his meetings with senior Israeli officials.

Netanyahu is expected to convene a broader meeting Tuesday on the war’s future.

Witkoff told hostage families that the US and Israel are working on a framework to end the war and secure the release of all hostages, though the timeline and terms remain uncertain.

“Formulating a deal with Hamas to end the war will take months,” a source involved in the talks said, calling the process “very complex negotiations.”

In the meantime, evidence shows aid is already entering Gaza. On Friday, Witkoff and US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee made a rare visit to the enclave, spending more than five hours in Rafah with the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), the main aid distributor since late May.

GHF says it delivers about 1.2 million meals daily — averaging just over half a meal per person in Gaza’s 2.1 million population.

“Today, we spent over five hours inside Gaza — level setting the facts on the ground, assessing conditions, and meeting with the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation,” Witkoff wrote on X, calling the operation “an incredible feat.”

Huckabee said he joined the visit to “learn the truth” about aid efforts, adding that they also received briefings from the Israeli military and spoke with people on the ground.