Washington, 3 June 2024 (dpa/MIA) - Washington is keeping pressure on Israel to end the war in the Gaza Strip following a proposal for a ceasefire deal outlined by US President Joe Biden.

US National Security Council Communications Director John Kirby told US broadcaster ABC News that "from a military prospective only... the Israelis have accomplished most of their goals in Gaza."

Kirby stressed that the US did not say that Palestinian militant organization "Hamas has no military capabilities. We've not said that they don't still represent a viable threat to the Israeli people. Of course they do."

"But they don't have the military capabilities to do what they did on the seventh of October," Kirby told The Week programme on Sunday.

Biden on Friday presented details of a draft peace deal that foresees three phases of de-escalation, starting with a complete ceasefire for six weeks and a withdrawal of Israeli forces from densely populated areas in Gaza.

It sets out plans for the release of hostages and prisoners, Israel's withdrawal from the Palestinian territory and the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.

While Washington said that Israel had endorsed the plan, several far-right members of the Israeli government on Saturday threatened to withdraw from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition in case the deal is accepted.

Following Biden's speech, Netanyahu repeated his government's stance that a prerequisite to peace is the destruction of Hamas' leadership and military capabilities and the return of all hostages.

Hamas meanwhile insists on an end to the war before it will release any more hostages.

On Sunday, Kirby repeatedly stressed that the deal was an "Israeli proposal." He also said that Washington expects Israel to agree to the plan for a ceasefire if Hamas agrees, adding that the militants were still to issue an official response.

The Gaza war was triggered by an unprecedented massacre carried out by Hamas and other extremist groups in Israel on October 7. More than 1,200 people were killed and more than 200 taken hostage in Gaza.

Israel responded with massive airstrikes and a ground offensive, in which 36,400 people have been killed so far, according to the Hamas-run health authorities in Gaza.

Photo: MIA archive