Egyptian officials have declared a freeze on negotiations between Israel and Hamas, casting a shadow over hopes for peace in the region. This development, reported exclusively to Reuters, comes after three days of intense talks that failed to produce a sustainable agreement.
The halt in negotiations reflects a growing frustration with what Egyptian mediators describe as Israel's "lack of seriousness" in pursuing a deal. According to these officials, the behavior of the Israeli delegation reveals deep internal conflicts, manifesting in sudden amendments and new conditions that threaten to derail the entire process.
"We've reached an impasse," one Egyptian official stated, speaking on condition of anonymity. "The Israelis come to the table, seemingly ready to move forward, only to backtrack with demands that upend our progress. It's as if they're playing a game of diplomatic chess, where the goal isn't to win, but to keep the board in perpetual motion."
This stalemate comes at a critical juncture, with both sides feeling the pressure of public opinion and internal political dynamics. Israeli officials, for their part, face the dual challenges of appeasing a war-weary populace and maintaining a fragile coalition government.
Saturday's assassination attempt on Mohammed Deif, the elusive leader of Hamas' military wing, may also have unintended consequences for the peace process.
Although Netanyahu (and many in Israel) tout this as a significant achievement, Netanyahu admitted last night, "There's no absolute certainty that Deif was killed [however] we will reach the top echelons of Hamas. This I promise."
As the dust settles from this latest operation, the path forward remains unclear. Egyptian mediators call for Israel to return to the negotiating table in good faith, while Israeli officials suggest that the assassination attempt might pressure Hamas into more favorable terms - eventually.
For now, the families of hostages held in Gaza can only wait and hope, caught in the crossfire of a conflict that seems to have no easy resolution. As one Egyptian source put it, "The clock is ticking. Every day without progress is a day lost to suffering and uncertainty."
* Kan 11 contributed to this article.