In the ongoing efforts to reach a ceasefire and secure the release of hostages held by Hamas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's stance on maintaining troops in the Philadelphi Corridor along the Gaza-Egypt border has become the main obstacle, according to current and former officials from mediating countries. The prolonged deadlock has led President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to discuss the possibility of presenting a final proposal to both Israel and Hamas in the coming week.

The situation is dire for the families of the Israeli hostages who are desperately hoping for their safe return, as well as for the more than 2 million Palestinians in Gaza who continue to suffer from displacement, hunger, disease, and Israeli airstrikes. Frustration among the officials involved in the talks is mounting, and pessimism about the prospects of a deal is deepening.

The chief point of contention revolves around Netanyahu's demand for Israeli troops to remain in the Philadelphi Corridor, which Israel captured in May. The prime minister argues that this presence is crucial to prevent Hamas from smuggling weapons. However, this stance has fueled tensions with Egypt, a key U.S. ally in the region, and has faced increasing opposition from figures within Israel's political and security establishment, who prioritize the safe return of the hostages.

Despite the focus on the border issue, U.S. officials are also seeking commitments from Hamas to address other critical aspects of the proposed agreement. There are concerns that even if the border dispute is resolved, the militant group may still block an agreement from being reached.

The Israeli cabinet recently voted in favor of maintaining a military presence along the Philadelphi Corridor, a move that drew criticism from Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and fueled doubts about Netanyahu's commitment to bringing the hostages home. Ephraim Sneh, a former deputy defense minister, stated that the decision made it clear that Netanyahu was not interested in prioritizing the hostages' release.

Diplomatic talks, which had initially shown promise in late May, have hit a snag following the introduction of new requirements by Israeli negotiators in July. These requirements include the demand for Israeli troops to remain in the Philadelphi Corridor and at the Rafah border crossing with Egypt. Hamas has firmly rejected these demands, and efforts to find a compromise have proven elusive.

Netanyahu's stance on the Philadelphi Corridor has also strained relations with Egypt, which vehemently opposes any Israeli presence in the area, citing violations of the 1979 Camp David Accords. Egypt has taken measures to destroy smuggling tunnels and has established a militarized buffer zone on its side of the border.

The Egyptian government has accused Netanyahu of using their name to divert attention and obstruct reaching a ceasefire agreement. Recent talks in Cairo focused solely on the Philadelphi Corridor, overlooking discussions concerning the hostage-for-prisoner exchange, according to a former Egyptian official familiar with the negotiations.

As the impasse persists, pressure builds on all parties involved to find a resolution. The families of the hostages continue to protest in large numbers, mourning the loss of those who were executed recently. With 97 hostages still held in Gaza, tensions are high, and the urgent need to secure their release becomes more pressing with each passing day.

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