Sources close to the negotiations report that Hamas, which had previously removed the demand to end the conflict in order to advance the prisoner deal, has now reintroduced this demand at the negotiating table.
Israeli security officials report that after Hamas dropped the demand for an end to hostilities—previously the major obstacle to negotiations and the prisoner exchange deal—the organization is now again demanding a comprehensive ceasefire as a condition for advancing the talks.
American officials around the White House and Secretary of State Antony Blinken have expressed pessimism regarding this renewed demand. Allegations from the Secretary of Defense's office criticize Hamas's reversal, with sources close to Blinken reporting that "the Secretary expects Hamas to respond quickly to the negotiation terms currently on the table, not to ones that were previously withdrawn before the talks began." Additionally, it has been reported that the White House plans to hold another round of talks in Cairo, with a possibility of holding a high-level meeting in Egypt itself soon.
