The phrase you're looking for is "dead end":

Egyptian-mediated ceasefire efforts between Israel and Palestinians in Gaza have stymied in recent hours, Palestinian sources told Ynet Monday afternoon. It is unclear whether this is due to last-minute stubbornness or simply a dead end between the sides... A source from another organization said that, in the event that a ceasefire is not reached, Israel can expect renewed rocket fire towards its civilians. Earlier Monday, Abu al-Qassam, the Director-General of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) said that, in the event that Israeli "aggression" would continue and if the crossings won't be opened, "the PFLP would make the lives of the enemy and its citizens a living hell."

If you're wondering what the holdup is - it certainly can't be that Hamas believes their own propaganda about winning Cast Lead - it has a lot to do with intransigent, genocidal fanaticism:

The political supremo of Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas, Khaled Meshaal, on Sunday ruled out any "permanent ceasefire" until Israel ends its crippling blockade of the Gaza Strip. Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, meanwhile, in talks with Meshaal urged him to be prepared for new hostilities with archfoe Israel. "The resistance is against a permanent ceasefire," Meshaal said at a news conference in Tehran, Iran's state news agency IRNA reported. "While the occupation continues, a permanent ceasefire has no meaning," Meshaal said at the conference, jointly held with Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki.

Which is weird, because during the war they rejected multiple ceasefire offers and repeatedly declared that they would never accept a long-term truce...

Meanwhile, the deputy head of Hamas's political bureau on Wednesday said his group is studying peace initiatives to end the violence in Gaza Strip but rejects permanent truce with Israel. Exiled Hamas leader Moussa Abou Marzouk said there will be no talks about a permanent cease-fire and that as long as there is an Israeli occupation, there will be resistance. Marzouk spoke to The Associated Press Wednesday - one day after Egypt and France proposed a plan for ending the fighting in Gaza.

... so I can't understand why it seems like they're uninterested in a long-term truce. And just for the record, yes, in both of those blockquotes "occupation" means "existence of Israel."

Last time it was Rice urging Israel to adopt a de facto unilateral "truce" while Hamas insisted they would keep firing. I'm pretty psyched to see how it'll play out this time.

More rockets fired at Israeli civilians this morning, by the by.

References:
* Cairo talks foundering [YNet]
* Hamas "Shocked" By EU Official's Condemnation Of Terrorism And Warmongering [MR]
* Hamas rules out permanent truce under Gaza blockade [AFP]
* Palestinian groups: Egypt's Gaza ceasefire plan not valid [YNet]
* Defense sources: Even if Hamas agrees to truce, its armed wing may resist [Ha'aretz]
* Rice presses Israel to consider truce [YNet]
* Rocket lands near Gaza border fence [YNet]

Previously:
* Palestinians Blow The Lid Off Cover Up Of Glorious Hamas Victory
* Unilateral Israeli Ceasefire Going Exactly As Expected
* Hamas Slowly Realizing They Got Dismantled (Plus: Western Academics, Hamas Fans Still Reveling In Glorious Victory!)