Months of on-off talks on a ceasefire have circled the same issues, but Israel and Hamas have stuck firmly to their demands, according to Reuters.
Hamas wants a deal that ends the deadly Israeli operation in Gaza and releases Israeli and foreign hostages in Gaza in return for the freedom of many Palestinians jailed by Israel. It blames Israel and the United States for the failure to conclude a deal.
Netanyahu says Israel’s offensive will only end once Hamas is defeated, and that a ceasefire to allow the exchange of hostages and prisoners would be only a temporary pause while the militant group remains a threat. He denies obstructing a deal.
