Israel and Hamas have accused each other of obstructing efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip and secure the release of hostages, according to Bloomberg. Mediators say that the current round of negotiations has brought both sides closer to a formal pause in hostilities for the first time in months. However, the denials from both sides released on Sunday have increased the likelihood of the situation returning to a deadlock. “We are conducting negotiations and not a scenario in which we just give and give,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Sunday at the sta…