Hamas officials leave Cairo as hostage talks appear to hit dead end, but Egypt says negotiations will resume

Egyptian officials say negotiations over a ceasefire in Gaza have reached an impasse over Hamas’s demand for a phased process culminating in an end to the war.

A delegation from Hamas has left Cairo for consultations, but talks will resume next week, an official source tells Egypt’s Al-Qahera News state-affiliated TV channel.

Officials tell the Associated Press Hamas has agreed on the main terms of such an agreement as a first stage, but wants commitments that it will lead to an eventual, more permanent ceasefire.

Hamas has said it will not release all of the remaining hostages without a full Israeli withdrawal from the territory. It is also demanding the release of a large number of prisoners, including top terrorists serving life sentences for mass casualty attacks, in exchange for the remaining hostages.

A senior Hamas official, Sami Abu Zuhri, says Israel has “thwarted” all mediators’ efforts to reach a Gaza ceasefire agreement. He tells Reuters that Israel rejects Hamas’s demands to end its offensive in the enclave, withdraw its forces, ensure freedom of entry for aid and the return of displaced people.

Israel has said it will continue fighting until Hamas is destroyed and all hostages are released, and will only agree to a temporary truce. Egyptian officials say mediators are still pressing the two parties to soften their positions.