Hopes of a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip this week are fading as Israel declined to send a delegation to Cairo for further negotiations with international mediators.
Following talks in Paris last week — widely regarded as being positive — hopes were high a cease-fire deal would be in place before the start next week of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.
While Hamas sent delegates to Cairo, Israel said it would not participate in the talks until it had seen the names of surviving Israeli hostages.
Hamas countered by saying it was impossible to know who was still alive because of continuing Israeli bombing. It claims it needs a cease-fire to gather such data.
Fears are now mounting that without a cease-fire deal, tensions could further spread during Ramadan.
Hezbollah Diplomatic Mission
Indeed, President Joe Biden has sent a special envoy to Lebanon in attempt to impress on Hezbollah that an escalation of hostilities with Israel is not in its best interests.
Amos Hochstein, a senior adviser to the …