Biden hopes Israel and Hamas will agree to ceasefire in Gaza in coming days. The Islamist group is studying a proposal for a six-week truce to exchange 40 Israeli hostages for the release of 400 Palestinian prisoners and an increase in humanitarian aid to the Strip.

An official Israeli source has indicated to Channel 12 television that he expects Hamas to reject the proposal and has spoken only of “slow progress,” while an Islamist official has clarified that “there are still many positions to be approached.”