In a concerning turn of events, U.S. officials have been left waiting for four days to receive basic answers from Hamas regarding negotiations for a hostage deal, according to a report by The Washington Post. This delay comes just hours after a phone call between U.S. President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, during which Netanyahu offered several concessions that were hailed by American officials.

Netanyahu's concessions included presenting a detailed map outlining the deployment of Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) along the Philadelphi Corridor. However, while U.S. officials praised Netanyahu's efforts, Hamas has been less cooperative, providing no responses to key questions such as the identity of the hostages to be released in the potential deal.

The terror organization has remained largely silent on the ongoing negotiations taking place in Doha and Cairo, drawing concerns from Washington. It is believed that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who assumed leadership after Ismail Haniyeh's assassination in Tehran, is playing a "waiting game," possibly hoping for an Iranian or Hezbollah attack on Israel that would turn the conflict into a regional war.

However, the report suggests that Sinwar may be disappointed by Tehran. American officials believe that Iran's leaders have decided to delay their retaliation for Haniyeh's assassination, influenced by a recent show of force by the U.S. in the Middle East. But while Iran may have postponed its attack, the U.S. remains concerned that it is encouraging its proxy, Hezbollah, to strike.

With regards to Hezbollah, American officials speculate that its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, may reconsider the plan to launch rockets towards central Israel, which could potentially lead to a dangerous escalation. However, Nasrallah has vowed to avenge the assassination of Fuad Shukr, Hezbollah's military Chief of Staff, and has multiple Israeli targets to choose from, leaving the situation uncertain.

In an effort to expedite progress, President Biden's special envoy to the Middle East, Brett McGurk, has been sent to Cairo to lay the groundwork for upcoming talks. The U.S. is particularly focused on resolving the contentious issue of the Philadelphi Corridor, with Biden urging Netanyahu to be more flexible in his demands regarding the presence of IDF forces. The U.S. is calling for a significant drawdown of forces during the initial phase of the deal, followed by a complete withdrawal in the subsequent stages.

While the U.S. is committed to supporting Israel's defense against all threats from Iran and its proxy groups, including Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis, the lack of cooperation from Hamas has complicated the situation. The terrorist organization, along with Islamic Jihad, released a joint statement blaming Israel for the collapse of previous mediation efforts.

Despite hopes for progress, sources familiar with the details suggest that the chances of reaching a deal at an upcoming summit in Cairo are currently slim. While the summit is anticipated to convene in the coming days, the likelihood of it concluding with a successful agreement is considered very low.

The presence of Brett McGurk in Cairo underscores the U.S.'s commitment to resolving these issues and finding a solution that benefits all parties involved. However, with Hamas remaining uncooperative and tensions still running high, the path to an agreement remains uncertain.