A high-ranking Egyptian official told Egypt's Alkahara Alakhbariya channel that Hamas' missile attack on the Kerem Shalom Crossing in southern Israel has harmed negotiations for a ceasefire-prisoner swap deal.
The Sunday afternoon attack left four Israeli soldiers dead and 10 others injured.
The source added that Egypt's security delegation is increasing its efforts to prevent escalation between Hamas and Israel.
Meanwhile, a recent New York Times article quoted both Hamas official Moussa Abu Marzouk and an unnamed Israeli official as claiming that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu toppled the negotiations with his statements that Israel will not compromise on eliminating Hamas in Rafah.
Netanyahu's office later issued a statement, clarifying, "The claim that Prime Minister Netanyahu, and not Hamas, torpedoed the hostage release deal is a complete lie and intentionally misleading to the public."
"The truth is the exact opposite: Hamas are the ones who torpedo every deal, by refusing to budge a millimeter from its extreme demands that any Israeli government in Israel would be unable to accept - first and foremost, that Israel completely withdraw from Gaza and end the war - something which will allow Hamas to renew its military control of Gaza and reorganize for the next October 7ths, as it promised to do."