According to Israeli TV channels Kan-11 and Keshet-12, the mediating countries are exerting pressure on Hamas to secure a deal for the release of Israeli hostages.
Keshet 12 reported that Hamas attributes the lack of progress in negotiations to Israel's rejection of its demands for a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza and the return of residents to northern Gaza.
Furthermore, according to the channel, Yahya Sinwar informed the mediators that the initially proposed six-week ceasefire is insufficient.
Keshet-12 noted that Hamas's refusal has angered representatives from Qatar and Egypt, who continue to pressure the group for an agreement.
However, on March 4, Basem Naim, a Hamas leader in Gaza, informed reporters that Hamas is uncertain about the survival of some hostages.
He stressed the necessity of a ceasefire to collect information on survivors and compile lists before reaching an agreement.
Kan-11 reported that the mediating countries proposed a solution to achieve the necessary ceasefire: offering Hamas a temporary ceasefire in exchange for releasing a few hostages to demonstrate seriousness and Hamas's control of the situation. Hamas rejected this proposal.
Amid the crisis at the Cairo talks, on March 4, US President Joe Biden wrote in his blog: “I will not stop pushing for an agreement that secures the release of hostages held by Hamas, leads to an immediate ceasefire of at least six weeks, and allows for more assistance to the entire Gaza Strip."
