A truce between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas in Gaza was never going to be easy. Weeks of talks have failed to produce agreement. But international pressure is growing.

Perhaps the biggest sign is the Biden administration sending William Burns, the head of the CIA, for the latest round of talks in Cairo.

Hamas has, in public at least, stuck with its initial demands of a permanent ceasefire, the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops and the return of displaced Palestinians to northern parts of the territory without restrictions.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meanwhile insists that Israel will continue fighting until Hamas is destroyed and hostages the group is holding are free.

“There’s a lot more American pressure on Israel, and on Egypt and Qatar to put pressure on Hamas. That’s obvious,” said Gershon Baskin, who helped negotiate a deal with Hamas for the release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in 2011.

“The fact that the head of the CIA showed up, which required all the negotiators to be there at the highest level. That’s indicative of increased American pressure.”

But that does not mean a deal is at hand.

Israeli officials have indicated willingness to make some concessions amid intensifying frustration among the country’s main allies, including the US. Earlier this week, the Israeli defence minister, Yoav Gallant, suggested that now was the right time for a truce.

Read Original Article