Reuters. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday (August 4) blamed Hamas for a long-stalled deal to end the war in Gaza and release Israeli hostages, more than 300 days after it began with an attack on Israeli border communities on Oct. 7.

 

Speaking at the start of a weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, Netanyahu said that while Israel has agreed to the initial outline of a deal, Hamas continues to demand more changes.

 

Cross border fire between Israel and Hamas, the Islamist group that controls the Gaza Strip continued on Sunday, after diplomatic efforts in Cairo on Saturday (August 3) ended without progress, and as Israel braces for a serious escalation in its northern border with Lebanon.

 

Chances of a breakthrough appear low as regional tension has soared following the assassination of Hamas’ leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on Wednesday, a day after an Israeli strike in Beirut killed Fuad Shukr, a top military commander from Lebanese armed group Hezbollah.

 

Hamas and Iran have both accused Israel of carrying out the assassination of Haniyeh and have pledged to retaliate. Israel has neither claimed nor denied responsibility for the death.

 

Hezbollah, like Hamas, is backed by Iran and has also vowed revenge after the killing of Shukr.

 

“The state of Israel is in a multi-arena war against Iran’t axis of evil. We are striking hard at any of its arms,” Netanyahu told his ministers at the cabinet meeting.