Israel resumed airstrikes and ground operations in Gaza after phase one of a 42-day ceasefire deal with Hamas ended on March 1. Since then more than 700 people have been killed in the enclave.

Negotiations on the second stage of the truce deal were meant to begin 16 days after the start of stage one — but this did not happen.

As a result, dozens of hostages, both alive and dead, remain in Hamas’ captivity as efforts by mediators to resume the truce and see them released remain in limbo.

Israel has pushed for Hamas to agree to a proposal pitched by Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trumps special envoy to the Middle East which would have seen an extension to the first phase of the deal.

Hamas has demanded a return to negotiations aimed at implementing the second part of the three phase deal, which was expected to pave the way to an end to the war.

The militant group has previously signaled that it would be willing to cede political power and administrative governance of Gaza to a Palestinian unity government, but maintained it would not disarm until an internationally recognized independent Palestinian state is realized.

Hamas leaders are likely to feel “very much backed into a corner” and “can’t figure out a way to achieve all of their aims, which are of course to remain a political force in Gaza, obtain a pathway for Palestinian statehood and of course, end the war,” Vakil said.

Eventually, she added, “they’re likely going to have to compromise … but systems like Hamas’ don’t generally put the needs of their citizens before their own.”