The latest round of cease-fire talks between Israel and Hamas in Cairo came to a close on Sunday, as both sides struggled to find common ground. Despite earlier signs of progress, key demands made by Hamas were rejected by Israel, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserted his determination to resist international pressure to halt the ongoing war.

Israel closed its main humanitarian aid crossing to Gaza after it was attacked by Hamas. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant accused Hamas of not being serious about reaching a deal and warned of an imminent military operation in Rafah and other areas across Gaza.

Notably, Israel did not send a delegation to the talks mediated by Egypt and Qatar. The Hamas delegation traveled to Qatar for discussions, and they are expected to return to Cairo for further negotiations on Tuesday.

However, another obstacle emerged when Israel ordered the local offices of Qatar's Al Jazeera news network to close, citing the broadcast of anti-Israel content. The ban did not affect the network's operations in Gaza or the West Bank.

Netanyahu, under pressure from hard-liners in his government, continued to downplay the prospects of a cease-fire agreement. He deemed Hamas' demands, including the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and an end to the war, as "extreme." According to him, meeting these demands would equate to surrender, citing Hamas' attack on October 7 that sparked the current conflict.

On the other hand, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh expressed the group's seriousness and positivity towards the negotiations, emphasizing the need to stop Israeli aggression in Gaza as their primary priority.

Meanwhile, Israel reiterated its intention to carry out a military operation in Rafah, where a significant number of Gaza's population seeks shelter from Israeli attacks. The closure of the Kerem Shalom crossing further compounds the humanitarian crisis, as it is a vital entry point for aid. The Israeli military reported that the crossing was targeted by projectiles, leading to injuries.

The head of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, Philippe Lazzarini, called for an independent investigation and accountability for the "blatant disregard of humanitarian workers." He also expressed his frustration at being denied entry to Gaza for the second time by Israel.

The closure of Kerem Shalom followed a stark warning from the head of the U.N. World Food Program, who described a "full-blown famine" in northern Gaza as a result of restrictions on aid. In light of this, the pursuit of a cease-fire faces mounting pressure.

The proposed three-stage process suggested by Egyptian mediators includes an immediate, six-week cease-fire, a partial release of Israeli hostages captured on October 7, and a potential Israeli pullout. The first stage focuses on the release of female civilian hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

Netanyahu maintained that Israel has demonstrated willingness to make concessions but asserted that they will continue fighting until all their objectives are achieved, including the crushing of Hamas. Despite warnings from the U.S. and others about the risk to civilians, Israel justifies targeting Rafah to eliminate remaining fighters.

In recent incidents, Israeli airstrikes in Rafah killed four children, including a baby, and two adults, while another strike in the Nuseirat refugee camp claimed the lives of at least five people. Israeli military operations have resulted in over 34,500 fatalities, according to Palestinian health officials, who note that women and children represent the majority of those killed. Israel, however, accuses Hamas of using civilian areas as cover and claims to have killed 13,000 militants without providing evidence to support the assertion.