What's happened
Ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas have hit a roadblock as major gaps remain in proposed deals, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejecting Hamas's demands for a permanent end to the war in Gaza. Netanyahu's refusal to agree to a ceasefire has led to threats of an imminent invasion of Rafah if an agreement is not reached. The negotiations have been ongoing in Cairo, but Netanyahu's stance against Hamas's demands has stalled progress.
Why it matters
The stalled ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas, with Netanyahu's rejection of Hamas's demands, have significant implications for the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The refusal to agree to a permanent ceasefire and the threat of invasion could escalate tensions and impact the lives of civilians in the region. The outcome of these negotiations will shape the future of the conflict and the stability of the Middle East.
What the papers say
According to The Times of Israel, Netanyahu emphasized the need for military pressure on Hamas to secure the release of hostages. The New York Times highlighted the major gaps in the ceasefire talks, with Netanyahu opposing any deal that calls for a permanent ceasefire. The Independent reported on Netanyahu's rejection of Hamas's demands and his order to close Al Jazeera offices amid the negotiations. Politico discussed the escalation of tensions between Netanyahu and US President Joe Biden over the ceasefire negotiations.
How we got here
The ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas have been ongoing for weeks, with negotiations in Cairo aimed at reaching a truce and securing the release of hostages. Netanyahu's firm stance against Hamas's demands for a permanent ceasefire and withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza has complicated the negotiations. The conflict in Gaza has been ongoing for almost seven months, with both sides facing pressure to reach a resolution.
Common question
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Benjamin Netanyahu is an Israeli politician serving as Prime Minister of Israel since 2009, and previously from 1996 to 1999. Netanyahu is also the Chairman of the Likud – National Liberal Movement.
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Hamas is a Palestinian Sunni-Islamic fundamentalist militant organization. It has a social service wing, Dawah, and a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades.
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Israel, formally known as the State of Israel, is a country in Western Asia, located on the southeastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea and the northern shore of the Red Sea.
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The Gaza Strip, or simply Gaza, is a self-governing Palestinian territory on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, that borders Egypt on the southwest for 11 kilometers and Israel on the east and north along a 51 km border.
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Rafah is a Palestinian city in the southern Gaza Strip. It is the district capital of the Rafah Governorate, located 30 kilometers south of Gaza City. Rafah's population of 152,950 is overwhelmingly made up of former Palestinian refugees.
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Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. is an American politician who is the 46th and current president of the United States. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the 47th vice president from 2009 to 2017 and represented Delaware in the United States Senate
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Ismail Abdel Salam Ahmed Haniyeh is a senior political leader of Hamas and formerly one of two disputed Prime Ministers of the Palestinian National Authority. Haniyeh became prime minister after Hamas won the Palestinian legislative elections of 2006.
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Cairo is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world. Its metropolitan area, with a population of over 20 million, is the largest in Africa, the Arab world, and the Middle East, and the 6th-largest in the world.