Ceasefire negotiations between Israel and the Hamas terrorist organization hit a setback Thursday, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recalled Israel’s negotiating delegation from Doha following what officials described as a hardening of Hamas’ demands.

“In light of the response Hamas delivered this morning, it has been decided to recall the negotiating team for further consultations in Israel,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement. “We appreciate the efforts of the mediators, Qatar and Egypt, and the efforts of envoy Steve Witkoff to achieve a breakthrough in the talks.”

According to reports in Israeli media, the terror group is now demanding the release of 200 Palestinians serving life sentences for murdering Israelis, and an additional 2,000 Palestinians detained in Gaza after Oct. 7. That demand significantly exceeds the previous mediator-backed framework – reportedly accepted by Israel – which included the release of 125 life-term prisoners and 1,200 other detainees.

In response to mounting pressure, Israel is visibly increasing the pace of aid deliveries. On Thursday, COGAT (Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories) reported that 70 aid trucks were transferred into Gaza on Wednesday through the Zikim and Kerem Shalom crossings. The shipments, primarily food, were delivered under IDF coordination with the U.N. and humanitarian organizations.

COGAT said more than 150 trucks were collected inside Gaza, but warned that over 800 trucks remain uncollected at the crossings due to logistical breakdowns on the Palestinian side.

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) stated on X that it offered on Wednesday to deliver the U.N.’s tons of aid sitting in Gaza for free. John Acree, GHF’s interim director, said, “We’ve seen aid by the U.N. and other organization(s) being piled near the borders but not being delivered.”

Prime Minister Netanyahu meets with Steve Witkoff, special envoy to the Middle East. (Prime Minister’s Media Adviser)

Israeli journalist Nadav Eyal reported Thursday that senior defense officials say they’ve been instructed by the political echelon to “greatly speed up the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza” and to “be less concerned with precautions or plans to keep it out of Hamas’ hands.”

As talks stall and military activity resumes, Israeli officials warn that the window for a deal may be closing. “There are still significant gaps,” one source told Channel 12. “The negotiations are not over – but time is running out.”