Israel said to reject proposed deal that would separate mothers and children, insists Gaza terror groups release them together; Hamas warns Israel not to drag its feet

The United States has stepped up pressure on Qatar to secure the release of some 240 hostages being held by terror groups in Gaza, amid reports that Israel is balking on an initial, partial deal that would keep some mothers in Gaza while their children went free.

US President Joe Biden held another call Friday with Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani and pressed him on the “urgent need” for the roughly 240 hostages “to be released without further delay,” the White House said, intensifying its rhetoric regarding the urgency of the issue.

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After previous hostage deal proposals would have seen parent hostages separated from their children abducted with them in Gaza, the war cabinet informed mediators that under no circumstances would Israel accept the separation of mothers from their children.