Timeline: How Israel Derailed Ceasefire Talks and Restarted War

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel had resumed its genocidal war on Gaza after Hamas allegedly rejected all ceasefire and prisoner exchange proposals. He claimed that Hamas refused every deal aimed at securing a truce and prisoner releases, leaving Israel with no choice but to restart its campaign. The Trump administration parroted Netanyahu’s claims through the U.S. ambassador to the Security Council, Dorothy Shea.

However, Hamas officials denied these claims, stating that they had engaged constructively with mediators and stressing that Netanyahu is deliberately reigniting the war to derail peace efforts.

The following timeline details how Israel systematically undermined ceasefire negotiations to justify restarting its genocidal war.

March 1: First Phase of Ceasefire Agreement Ends
The first phase of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas ended without an agreement on the next steps.

The six-week phase allowed Hamas to release 33 Israeli prisoners, including eight who were dead. In return, Israel freed around 1,800 Palestinian detainees, including hundreds serving life sentences.

As the deadline passed, Israel sought an extension until mid-April, but Hamas insisted on moving to the next phase, which would end the war and force Israel’s military to withdraw from Gaza.

March 9: U.S. Holds Secret Direct Talks with Hamas
For the first time, the Trump administration engaged in secret direct negotiations with Hamas without Israel’s involvement.

U.S. envoy Adam Boehler led talks in Doha to secure the release of American soldier prisoners in Gaza and explore a long-term truce. This marked a significant shift in U.S. policy, which had previously designated Hamas a terrorist organization in 1997.

March 14: Netanyahu’s Office Sabotages U.S.-Led Deal
Reports surfaced revealing that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office actively worked to derail the U.S. deal to secure the release of American soldier prisoners.

Yedioth Ahronoth reported that Netanyahu’s inner circle leaked details of the negotiations and pressured the Trump administration to remove Boehler.

An Israeli insider admitted, “We were shocked and never expected the Americans to go this far.” The leaks led to Boehler’s dismissal, with some U.S. officials accusing Netanyahu of prioritizing political interests over a prisoner deal.

March 14: U.S. Envoy Proposes New Ceasefire Deal
Steven Witkoff, Boehler’s replacement, traveled to Doha with a new proposal. The plan included:

• The release of five living Israeli prisoners on the first day.
• A 50-day extension of the ceasefire while negotiating a permanent truce and Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
• Resumption of humanitarian aid and UN operations in Gaza.
• Guarantees from the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar that phase two negotiations would happen.

Hamas responded with four key conditions:

• Agreeing to release the five Israeli prisoners as proposed.
• Demanding immediate talks on phase two upon their release.
• Seeking clarity on humanitarian aid, including the entry of caravans, bulldozers, and trucks into Gaza.
• Insisting that Israel fulfill all remaining phase one obligations, including withdrawing from the Philadelphia corridor.

March 14: Israel Rejects Hamas’ Conditions, Escalates Demands
Israel dismissed Hamas’ conditions and countered with a more aggressive proposal:

• The release of 11 live prisoners and 16 bodies instead of five prisoners.
• A revised prisoner exchange ratio, offering 10 Palestinian detainees for each live prisoner instead of the previous 50:1 ratio.
• Limiting the ceasefire extension to 40 days.
• Imposing restrictions on humanitarian aid distribution.
• No commitments on withdrawing from the Philadelphia corridor or allowing reconstruction equipment into Gaza.

Witkoff, after failing to secure an agreement, left Doha for Russia and gave Hamas a deadline to accept the proposal.

Before Hamas could respond, Israel resumed its military operations.

March 18: Israel Restarts the War on Gaza
Despite ongoing negotiations, Israel resumed its genocidal war on Gaza before Hamas’ deadline to respond to Witkoff’s proposal. The decision shattered hopes for a prolonged ceasefire and raised concerns about the humanitarian crisis in the besieged starved strip. The U.S. administration, under Trump, faced criticism for not pushing back against Netanyahu’s government and allowing the ceasefire to collapse.

Since early Tuesday, Israel has escalated its military attacks, launching intense and widespread airstrikes on civilians. By 10:00 a.m. GMT, the Ministry of Health reported 404 deaths and over 562 injuries.

Hamas spokesman Abdul Latif al-Qanou affirmed that the movement remained in continuous contact with mediators and approached the negotiations responsibly. He stated that Hamas did not reject Witkoff’s proposal but rather engaged with it positively. He stated that Netanyahu resumed the genocide to sabotage the agreement and prolong the suffering of Gaza’s civilians.