Israel is recalling its negotiators from Qatar, believing that negotiations to reach a truce deal in the Gaza Strip have reached an “impasse” due to Hamas demands, a senior Israeli official said today.

The Israeli official – who works closely with the Mossad chief who is leading the negotiations – accused Yahya Shinuwar, the leader of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, of sabotaging the dialogue “as part of a wider effort to add fuel to the fire of war because of Ramadan”.

Diplomatic efforts have been intensified in Doha recently to reach an agreement that provided for a six-week halt in Israeli military operations in exchange for the release of at least 40 hostages still held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

The Islamist movement set as prerequisites the end of the conflicts and the withdrawal of the Israeli army from the Gaza Strip. Israel has categorically ruled out this possibility, clarifying that it intends to continue efforts to eliminate Hamas’ administrative and military capabilities.

Hamas has also raised the issue of the safe return of hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians who have fled their homes since the outbreak of war, seeking safe haven in the southern tip of the Palestinian enclave.

An associate of the Mossad chief said Israel had agreed to double the number of Palestinians it would release in exchange for the hostages to around 700-800, as well as allow some displaced people to return to the northern Gaza Strip.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said earlier today that Hamas had made “delusional” demands, showing that the Palestinian side was not really interested in reaching a deal. For its part, Hamas accuses Israel of simply trying to buy time by continuing its military operations.