Negotiations aimed at brokering a ceasefire in the ongoing Israel-Gaza war have hit a roadblock, just days before the unofficial deadline of the beginning of Ramadan. Palestinian officials have stated that two days of talks between Hamas and international mediators in Cairo, Egypt, have failed to achieve any significant breakthroughs. This comes after Israel declined to send a delegation to the latest round of negotiations.

Basem Naim, the head of Hamas's political division in Gaza, expressed his belief that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu does not want to reach an agreement. He called upon the United States to press Netanyahu to return to the negotiating table. Meanwhile, Egypt's Al-Qahera News, closely associated with the country's intelligence services, reported that the negotiations are difficult but ongoing, citing an unnamed senior official.

The Hamas team, along with Egyptian, Qatari, and US mediators, have agreed to extend the talks for at least one more day. Israeli authorities have not yet responded to the request for comment. Earlier, a US official stated that Israel had "more or less accepted" the deal presented to an Israeli delegation in Qatar.

During the past two days, international mediators have pressured Hamas to provide a list of hostages to be released as the first step towards a phased ceasefire agreement with Israel. However, it remains unclear why Hamas has not produced the list yet. Speculations suggest it could be due to communication issues between Hamas units inside and outside Gaza, the possibility of other Palestinian groups holding some hostages, or certain elements within Hamas purposely obstructing the deal.

Israel demanded that Hamas present a list of 40 elderly, sick, and female hostages to be released as part of an initial six-week truce coinciding with Ramadan. In response, Hamas demanded the allowance of large-scale humanitarian aid into Gaza and the return of Palestinians displaced from their homes in the northern part of the territory.

Critics argue that the US, as Israel's main arms supplier and important international ally, has not fully utilized its leverage to bring Israel to the negotiating table or increase aid to Gaza's civilians. However, Washington has recently strengthened its rhetoric on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The US Air Force, in collaboration with Jordanian planes, conducted airdrops of aid, delivering 38,000 meals in total.

The Israel-Gaza war, which has now entered its fifth month, was sparked by an unexpected attack by Hamas on Israeli communities. The conflict resulted in the deaths of more than 30,000 people, displacement of 85% of Gaza's population, and extensive damage to the territory's infrastructure.

As the war persists, there is a growing risk of conflagration, with Iran-backed groups in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen becoming involved. The upcoming start of Ramadan, around March 10th, highlights the urgency for a comprehensive ceasefire to ensure sufficient aid reaches all areas of besieged Gaza. Reports have revealed a quarter of Gaza's population is facing starvation and a distressing rise in child malnutrition.

Amidst the ongoing violence, fighting continued on Tuesday, with Hamas officials reporting numerous Israeli airstrikes near the European hospital in Hamad, near Khan Younis. Both sides suffered casualties, with the Hamas-run health ministry not distinguishing between civilian and combatant deaths. Israel stated that its jets had struck 50 targets in the past 24 hours.

With the deadline approaching, the key stakeholders involved must navigate the challenges and find common ground to bring about a lasting ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza conflict.