Additionally, Israel views Hamas’ release of Liri’s video at this time as an attempt at psychological warfare and public opinion manipulation aimed at extracting further concessions from Israel.

The Israeli delegation, composed of Mossad, Shin Bet and IDF Military Intelligence officials, arrived in Doha on Friday morning. However, their mandate to conduct the talks was granted only in the afternoon, following a phone consultation between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his team.

Netanyahu “approved the continuation of the negotiations,” giving the delegation a mandate to advance. Nonetheless, gaps remain, despite Israel describing the process as “slow progress.”

The disparities between the parties center on several issues, the most pressing being the number of hostages to be released in the deal. Hamas is willing to release a very limited number of live hostages and refuses to provide a list of names upfront, which Israel insists on as a basis for progress.

Currently, the gap between the number of hostages Hamas is prepared to release and Israel’s demands for a humanitarian hostage release phase is substantial. Disagreements also persist over ending the war and the military presence along the Philadelphi and Netzarim corridors.

Meanwhile, Shira and Eli Albag, Liri’s parents, addressed to her video after speaking with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz. “We demanded that the negotiation team not return without an agreement,” they said.