The White House has lowered its expectations for a prisoner swap deal between Hamas and Israel that would lead to a full ceasefire in Gaza before the end of the year, an informed source said.

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that until the end of last week there was great optimism that negotiators would be able to overcome obstacles and reach a ceasefire in Gaza, “or at least reach an understanding on a binding agreement for both parties, under which irreversible frameworks would be set, including initial steps and the way forward after that.”

“When President Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, went on his last visit to Israel (December 12), he said he believed an agreement on a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of the hostages could be near, as Israel had indicated its readiness and there were signs of movement from Hamas,” the source said. “Now, I think there is a sense of frustration in the White House that an agreement has not been reached as hoped, after the mutual accusations between Israel and Hamas about who is responsible for last-minute setbacks that could take negotiations back to square one.”

The source pointed out that the officials are busy with Christmas, and we may see a renewal of energy and negotiating spirit after the holidays.

Indicators rose last Sunday about the proximity of reaching a ceasefire agreement, amid cautious optimism from the US administration, which seeks to achieve a breakthrough before the end of Joe Biden's term on January 20, and the announcement by the Palestinian factions that the agreement is "closer than ever."

On Wednesday, Hamas issued an official statement accusing Israel of imposing new conditions that led to delaying the agreement on the release of hostages and a ceasefire.

The movement indicated that the negotiations taking place in Doha with Qatari and Egyptian mediation are proceeding "seriously," but added that Israel's raising of new issues related to the ceasefire, the exchange of hostages, and the return of the displaced caused the agreement to be disrupted.

For his part, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded to Hamas' statement by accusing the movement of backtracking on previous understandings, stressing the continuation of efforts to return the hostages.

Netanyahu's office said in a statement that "the Hamas terrorist organization is lying again, backtracking on the understandings that were reached, and continuing to make it difficult for negotiations. However, Israel will continue its tireless efforts to return all the kidnapped."

In turn, the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation reported, quoting sources "informed" of the negotiations aimed at reaching a truce in Gaza, that the talks "did not collapse," noting at the same time that the head of the Hamas movement in Gaza, Mohammed Sinwar, "showed more hardline positions compared to his late brother Yahya Sinwar."

The Israeli delegation returned from Qatar on Tuesday after days of deadlock in the negotiations. The sources explained that this deadlock "resulted from Hamas's refusal to provide a list of the names of the detainees, living and deceased, who will be released in the first stage of the deal."

She pointed out that Hamas "ignores the pressures of the mediators, as Mohammed Sinwar has shown more hardline positions compared to his brother Yahya."

However, the Israeli authorities stressed that if progress was made in the talks, "the delegation could be sent again."