A former senior Israeli security official, Yossi Amrusi, has proposed a new two-pronged approach to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas since the October 2023 attacks. Amrusi suggests that Israel should stop current negotiations and instead create humanitarian zones to separate civilians from Hamas, while also conducting direct, local negotiations with those holding the hostages, offering incentives for their release. He criticized the effectiveness of current mediators and argued that prolonged talks only benefit Hamas. The United States and Israel have recently withdrawn their negotiating teams from Qatar, citing a lack of progress, and are now considering alternative strategies. Meanwhile, international leaders and organizations continue to debate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with Israel defending its efforts to provide aid and disputing reports of widespread starvation.