JERUSALEM, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Israel decided on Thursday to recall its Gaza ceasefire negotiating team from Qatar's Doha for consultations, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office said in a statement.

The decision followed Hamas' response to the mediators' proposal earlier in the day for a 60-day ceasefire and the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, it said.

"We appreciate the efforts of mediators Qatar and Egypt and the efforts of U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff to bring about a breakthrough in the talks," it said.

Israel's state-owned Kan TV News, citing a source close to the negotiations, reported that "the talks did not collapse."

"This is a coordinated move between all parties," it reported. "There are fateful decisions that need to be made, and that is why the delegation returned for further consultations. The momentum is still positive."

Citing another source, Kan TV News reported that Hamas is, among other things, demanding the release of 200 Palestinian militants and 2,000 Gazan civilians who were detained after Oct. 7, 2023, when the Gaza war erupted.

According to Kan, these numbers are much higher than what Israel agreed to in the mediators' proposal, which includes the release of about 120 militants and another 1,200 civilians. ■