A key new condition was an Israeli military presence at the Philadelphi corridor instead of the original phased withdrawal of all troops from Gaza.

The Knesset, Israel’s parliament, has been in summer recess since July 28 and will not reconvene until Oct. 27 because of the Jewish holidays. Until then, and thus for the next seven weeks, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be Israel’s virtual dictator, with no legislative constraints.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's insistence on the controversial demand in cease-fire talks has defied the eruption of anger in the wake of the killings of six hostages in Hamas captivity.