As talks to secure a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas continue to face hurdles, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has added fresh uncertainties to the negotiations. Late on Sunday, Netanyahu declared that Israel should have the ability to resume fighting as part of any deal agreed upon by negotiators. This statement has raised the bar for Israel's acceptance of a ceasefire, dampening hopes of a quick resolution to the conflict.

Netanyahu has specified that "any deal will allow Israel to resume fighting until all of the objectives of the war have been achieved." His office released a statement asserting that a permanent cease-fire cannot be fully committed to until Hamas is completely eradicated from the Gaza Strip. This demand echoes the Israeli prime minister's long-standing stance on the matter, emphasizing the release of hostages and the assurance of Israel's security as crucial objectives of the war.

Furthermore, Netanyahu's office has insisted that a deal must also address the prevention of weapons smuggling from Egypt into Gaza, as well as maximization of the number of hostages released by Hamas, rather than their complete return. This statement has drawn criticism from Netanyahu's domestic political opponents and Israeli demonstrators campaigning for a comprehensive hostage-release agreement.

The United States, Egypt, and Qatar, meanwhile, continue their efforts to broker a cease-fire and the release of hostages. In May, President Biden outlined a three-phase plan for the negotiations, which included a six-week initial stage focusing on a cease-fire and increased humanitarian aid. CIA Director William J. Burns will be returning to the Middle East this week to support the Biden administration's efforts in pushing the negotiation process forward.

Recent reports indicate that an Israeli delegation led by intelligence chief Ronen Bar will continue negotiations in Egypt. Talks were given a glimmer of hope as Israel and Hamas resumed indirect discussions in Doha, Qatar last week. However, according to sources close to the negotiations, one of the stumbling blocks has been the transition from the first phase to the second phase of the proposed framework agreement.

While talks progress, Israel's military stated that operations in the Gaza Strip are ongoing. The Israel Defense Forces announced that they have launched an operation in Gaza City, including areas near the headquarters of the U.N. Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), often providing assistance to Palestinian refugees. The IDF has stated that the operation aims to target Hamas "terrorist infrastructure, operatives, weapons, and investigation and detention rooms" within the city.

Israeli forces have also conducted strikes on multiple military targets belonging to Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, according to the Israel Defense Forces. The strikes included hitting a weapons storage facility and other targets, as well as utilizing artillery to eliminate threats in various parts of southern Lebanon.

The death toll from the ongoing conflict continues to rise, with the Gaza Health Ministry reporting that at least 38,193 people have been killed, and 87,903 injured in Gaza since the war began. Israel estimates that around 1,200 people were killed in a single attack by Hamas on October 7th and states that 323 soldiers have been killed since the start of its military operations in Gaza.

The Israel-Gaza war has been a months-long ordeal that has not only affected the region but has also strained relations in the surrounding Middle East. The roots of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict are deep and complex, dating back to before the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948, making reaching a lasting resolution an intricate challenge.