Mediators from the United States, Qatar and Egypt are pressing Israel and Hamas to accept a proposed three-stage ceasefire and hostage deal that would include the eventual withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza. On Friday, President Biden outlined the proposed deal at the White House.

President Joe Biden: “It’s time to begin this new stage, for the hostages to come home, for Israel to be secure, for the suffering to stop. It’s time for this war to end, for the day after to begin.”

Biden described the ceasefire plan as an Israeli proposal, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not yet publicly backed the plan. One of his aides said Israel has agreed to the framework of the deal, but no official announcement has been made. Two far-right members of the Israeli government — Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir — have threatened to leave Netanyhu’s government if he supports the truce proposal. On Saturday, tens of thousands of Israelis, led by relatives of hostages, took part in protests calling on Netanyahu not to sabotage the ceasefire deal.

Efrat Machikawa: “We demand that Netanyahu stand up and publicly support the Israeli proposal which President Biden presented yesterday, stand up in front of the Israeli citizens and publicly accept this deal.”