Tel Aviv/Cairo, 14 February 2024 (dpa/MIA) - Israel and the Palestinian organization Hamas have blamed each other for the lack of progress in negotiations over a new ceasefire in the Gaza war and the release of more hostages.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday "no new proposal from Hamas for the release of our hostages was submitted in Cairo."

Netanyahu insists that Israel will not give in to Hamas's "delusional demands." He added that only a change in Hamas' positions will allow the negotiations to advance.

However, Hamas sources said that it was Israel that was blocking a negotiation breakthrough. A Hamas source said a delegation was scheduled to be in Cairo to meet with Egyptian officials.

Top representatives from the United States, Israel, Qatar and Egypt have been working on brokering a ceasefire deal in the Gaza war.

The head of the Israeli secret service Mossad, David Barnea, arrived in Cairo for talks on Tuesday, dpa learned from airport sources. He was accompanied by the head of the domestic intelligence service Shin Bet, Ronen Bar.

Egypt, Qatar and the US have been pushing for a longer ceasefire in the Gaza war.

As part of a potential agreement, the hostages still being held in Gaza would be exchanged for Palestinian prisoners in Israel in several phases. Negotiations have only made slow progress recently.

During a ceasefire mediated by Egypt, Qatar and the US last November, 105 hostages were released in return for 240 Palestinian prisoners.

There are currently 134 people still being held by Hamas, but Israel estimates that at least 30 of them have died.

Photo: EPA