Biden hopes to have a ceasefire deal by next Monday. However, it is uncertain whether international mediators will be able to negotiate such a deal by the start of the Muslim fasting month on March 10.
Israeli television channels Channel 12 and Kan quoted officials as saying that a negotiating framework proposed by mediators Egypt, Qatar and the United States remained inconsistent with Hamas' demands. Hamas, in turn, accused Israel of adopting a blockade stance. The US government has been negotiating for weeks about a new ceasefire, which should enable the release of all hostages.