Negotiations between a high-level Israeli delegation and Egyptian officials regarding a Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal have hit a roadblock, according to two Israeli officials. Talks conducted on Saturday in Cairo ended without any substantial progress being made as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu put forth new demands, causing a significant setback in the negotiations.

The meeting in Cairo came under intense pressure from the United States, urging both Egypt and Israel to reach a resolution. This pressure followed Israel's recent assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran just days after a discussion between President Biden and Netanyahu about securing the hostage deal in the Oval Office. President Biden expressed his dismay during a tough phone call with the Israeli Prime Minister on Thursday, criticizing the decision to proceed with the assassination.

Originally scheduled for Thursday, the meeting in Cairo between the director of Mossad, David Barnea, the director of Shin Bet, Ronen Bar, and the director of Egyptian intelligence, Abbas Kamel, aimed to address the security concerns related to the hostage and ceasefire deal. Particularly, discussions focused on implementing updated security arrangements along the Philadelphi corridor on the Egypt-Gaza border to combat arms smuggling to Hamas.

However, sources indicate that senior Israeli security and intelligence officials involved in the negotiations are convinced that Netanyahu no longer intends to move forward with the deal, despite the impression he gave Biden during their recent meeting in the Oval Office. Israeli officials deny obstructing or preventing a deal but acknowledge the reported strong words exchanged during the meeting between Netanyahu and the Israeli Prime Minister's office.

It is essential to note that these stalled negotiations further exacerbate tensions in the region, particularly amid the backdrop of Israel's recent assassinations in Beirut and Tehran. The unpredictable escalation of hostilities brings the Middle East dangerously close to a regional war, unlike anything seen since the October 7 terrorist attack by Hamas.

The implications of the current impasse extend beyond Gaza, risking greater U.S. involvement in the crisis and potentially causing widespread suffering. Months of carefully negotiated hopes for a ceasefire and hostage deal are now fading away, prompting concerns of a deepening regional crisis.

As the Biden administration seeks to mitigate the situation, President Biden had a phone conversation with Netanyahu on Thursday, emphasizing the urgent need to prevent further escalation resulting from the series of Israeli assassinations. Undertaking measures to counter a potential retaliatory attack from Iran, the administration believes that Iran is planning to strike Israel in response to the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.

The situation remains tenuous as negotiations for a Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal reach a stalemate, and all eyes are now on the next steps to resolve the impasse and quell the heightened tensions in the region.