The American website "Axios" reported on Monday that there are "two main obstacles" in the negotiations aimed at reaching a ceasefire agreement in Gaza and the release of hostages held by Hamas since the October 7 attack. The source noted, "The two main obstacles in the talks are that Israel wants to maintain military control over the Philadelphi Route on the border between Egypt and Gaza, and the second is the establishment of a mechanism to prevent the smuggling of weapons from southern Gaza to the north," pointing out that Hamas rejects both requests.
Additionally, it was mentioned, "The Israeli side presented a map during the talks, based on orders from (Israeli Prime Minister) Netanyahu, indicating that Israel has reduced some of its forces but is still deploying them along the Philadelphi Route. The Egyptians rejected this plan." It continued, "Netanyahu informed (U.S. Secretary of State) Blinken that he plans to send heads of the Israeli negotiating team to another summit in Cairo later this week."
"Axios" highlighted that "Netanyahu refuses to give his negotiators enough space to finalize a deal." Meanwhile, the newspaper "Yedioth Ahronoth" revealed that "the Egyptians refused to convey the Israeli position regarding the Philadelphi Route to Hamas." It explained, "The issue of the Philadelphi Route will be central to the discussions that Blinken will conduct in Cairo as he tries to find solutions to this problem."
Blinken announced on Monday that Netanyahu confirmed to him that he supports the U.S. proposal to narrow the gaps for a ceasefire in Gaza and called on Hamas to agree to it. Blinken told reporters, "During a very constructive meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu today, he confirmed to me that Israel agrees to the proposal to narrow the gaps. He supports it. It is now Hamas's duty to do the same."
He added: "What I say to Hamas and its leadership is that if they are truly concerned about the Palestinian people they claim to represent in some way, they should say 'yes' to this agreement and work on clear understandings regarding how to implement it," following accusations from Hamas that Netanyahu is obstructing mediation efforts. Hamas called on mediators to implement a proposal put forward by U.S. President Joe Biden in late May, considering that the proposal to narrow the gaps "responds to Netanyahu's conditions and aligns with them," emphasizing that he bears "full responsibility for undermining the efforts of the mediators."
