FILE — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a news conference in the Kirya military base in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Oct. 28, 2023. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told his Cabinet on Sunday that there had been a “dramatic drop” in U.S. weapons deliveries for Israel's war effort in Gaza, doubling down on a claim that the Biden administration has denied and underscoring the growing strains between the two allies. (Associated Press)

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu downplayed the prospect of a cease-fire with Hamas being agreed soon, blaming the militant group for stalling talks.

“Hamas is not there with a deal,” he said to Fox News on Thursday. “Unfortunately, it’s not close.”

The two sides have been negotiating for months over a deal to pause fighting in Gaza and get Hamas to release more hostages it’s holding in the Palestinian territory. The U.S. is mediating along with Qatar and Egypt.

Israel recovered the bodies of six hostages over the weekend who it said were executed by Hamas shortly before. That prompted tens of thousands of Israelis take to the streets and go on strike, with many of them blaming their government for not making an earlier deal with Hamas.

Hamas, designated a terrorist organization by the U.S., killed 1,200 people and took 250 hostage when its fighters swarmed into southern Israel from Gaza on Oct. 7. Israel’s subsequent offensive has killed more than 40,000 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza.

There are now around 100 hostages left, though Israeli officials have said many of them are probably dead.

“Hamas has consistently said no,” Netanyahu said. “They don’t agree to anything.”

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