US piles pressure on Israel, Hamas over ceasefire deal, urges UN support

US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller has said that there are “certain people” in Israel’s government who “would probably not look too kindly” on the new US-backed truce proposal.

Miller’s comments came after he was asked why there would be a need to “implore the Israelis to accept” a truce deal that the White House has claimed Israel’s government tabled itself.

Miller clarified that the US was imploring “others in the Israeli government” to accept the deal, but “ultimately, this is an Israeli government proposal”.

Far-right Israeli officials have rejected the three-phase deal, announced by US President Joe Biden last week, with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich pledging to push to “replace” the country’s “failed leadership” if it accepts it.