Ceasefire and Hostage Talks Between Israel and Hamas Halted Amid Netanyahu's New Demands

Jul 13, 2024, 07:54 PM

Ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas have been halted after three days of intense discussions in Doha and Cairo failed to produce a viable outcome. Egyptian officials have blamed Israel for the lack of genuine intent to reach an agreement, citing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's introduction of new demands and reneging on key concessions. Netanyahu has insisted that he has not added or removed any conditions but has rejected Hamas's attempts to introduce 29 changes to the deal. The talks, which aimed to secure a truce and the release of hostages, have been frozen until Israel demonstrates its seriousness in the negotiations. Hostage families have decried Netanyahu’s handling of the ceasefire talks, which departed from what he had accepted in the Biden proposal.