Zamir threatens: We will expand the invasion and occupy more areas of the Gaza Strip.

Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir said Wednesday that "Hamas will pay the price for its intransigence," threatening to confront it "with firepower, expand the ground incursion, occupy more territory, cleanse it, and destroy the infrastructure until the battle is resolved."

The publication of Zamir's statements coincided with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's decision to withdraw several members of the negotiating delegation from Doha, including the coordinator for prisoners and missing persons affairs, Gal Hirsch, and the Shin Bet official known by the initial "M," who are leading the Israeli delegation in the negotiations.

According to the decision, a small technical team will remain in Qatar, in a move aimed at sending a message to Washington that "Tel Aviv is still ready to negotiate." Channel 12 quoted Israeli officials as saying that the Doha negotiations have "exhausted themselves," and that "if Hamas decides to advance, we will be able to move quickly." They stated that keeping the technical teams in Qatar came in response to American pressure.

The Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (Kan 11), citing informed sources, noted that the return of the negotiating team leaders from Doha came in light of the lack of negotiating sessions in recent days, a point Hamas had indicated in a statement issued this evening.

An Israeli source said that keeping part of the delegation in Doha is "merely formal" and comes in response to Washington. According to Kan 11, actual talks are currently being conducted directly between US envoy Steve Witkoff and Netanyahu and his Minister of Strategic Affairs, Ron Dermer.

Netanyahu said in a brief statement issued by his office that "Israel has accepted the American offer to return the prisoners, which is based on the Witkoff proposal." He added that the proposal "was recently conveyed to Hamas through mediators, but it continues to be stubborn," he said.

He added that the high-level Israeli negotiating team will return to the country for consultations, "after about a week of intensive talks in Doha," according to his claims. The statement issued by Netanyahu's office stated that a technical team "will remain in Qatar at this stage."

Earlier on Tuesday, Hamas said the continued presence of the Israeli delegation in Doha, despite its lack of authority, was an attempt by Netanyahu to "mislead international public opinion," stressing that "no real negotiations have taken place since last Saturday."