Efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza are encountering major setbacks, driven by Israeli demands for a continued presence in the area, which faces strong opposition from both Hamas and Egypt.

According to ten sources cited by Reuters who are familiar with the US-brokered talks that concluded last week, disagreements over "Israel’s" proposed military role in Gaza and the release of Palestinian detainees remain critical obstacles, stalling progress on a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement.

The sources indicated that these setbacks stemmed from new demands made by "Israel" following Hamas' acceptance of a version of the ceasefire plan introduced by US President Joe Biden in May, which is sabotaging the talks. 

One source revealed that "Israel" suggested delaying the return of civilians to northern Gaza until "a later date," which was viewed by some intermediaries and Hamas as a retreat from "Israel’s" previous commitments.

The source noted that intermediaries and Hamas viewed this proposal as a retreat by "Israel" on a prior commitment to withdraw from the Netzarim corridor and allow unrestricted movement within Gaza. This perceived backtracking has deepened the impasse, further complicating efforts to finalize a ceasefire agreement.

'Israel', Egypt also need to reach an agreement

Concerning another point of contention, Egyptian officials reportedly rejected "Israel’s" request to maintain a military presence along the Philadelphi Route, arguing that it would violate the peace treaty between Egypt and "Israel". They further emphasized that Egypt does not want to be seen as complicit in "Israel’s" occupation of Gaza, according to The Wall Street Journal (WSJ).

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In this context, Israeli media reported that the Prime Minister’s office denied claims that "Israel" is considering the placement of an international force on the Philadelphi Corridor. 

“Prime Minister Netanyahu insists on the principle that Israel will control the Philadelphi Route to prevent Hamas from rearming, which could enable it to repeat the atrocities of October 7,” Israeli media cited a statement by the PM's office.

The Biden administration, which initially focused on closing what it called the “final remaining gaps” in the ceasefire negotiations, is now facing a growing rift between "Israel" and Egypt. This escalating dispute has become a significant obstacle to securing an agreement.

According to the WSJ, the US is attempting to find a compromise on the level of Israeli forces to be stationed along the corridor, but Egypt remains firm in its refusal to allow any Israeli presence there.

Egyptian officials reported that "Israel" proposed eight watchtowers along the Philadelphi Corridor, while the US suggested a compromise of two towers. Egypt rejected both proposals, arguing that any towers would provide "Israel" with a permanent military presence. Additionally, Egypt seeks US guarantees that if "Israel" withdraws during the first phase of the ceasefire, it will not re-enter later if negotiations fail.

On that note, Reuters reported that a Western diplomat, describing "Israel's" latest demands in the talks, said it appears that the United States has accepted the changes proposed by Netanyahu, including the continuation of the Israeli military presence in the two corridors.

An American official rejected this, stating that the negotiations on "implementation" aim to fill the gaps of disagreements over the Philadelphi and Netzarim corridors, the number of Palestinian prisoners, and other related issues.

'Israel' unhappy with Blinken's stance amid ceasefire talks

During US Secretary Antony Blinken's visit to the Middle East this week, his remarks implied that Netanyahu had accepted the US proposal to bridge the gap and that the responsibility now lay with Hamas, according to The New York Times.

One source noted that these statements created the impression that Netanyahu and the Biden administration were aligned on a proposal that Hamas was almost certain to reject, fueling frustration and reducing the likelihood of reaching an agreement.

Israeli officials stressed that instead, Blinken could have called for "greater flexibility" from both sides in a more ambiguous manner, reported NYT.