US security adviser says Israel backs cease-fire proposal

U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan on Thursday dismissed claims that Israel isn’t fully committed to the cease-fire proposal with Hamas that President Joe Biden presented in late May at the White House.

“Israel has put forward this proposal. It has been on the table for some time. Israel has neither contradicted nor withdrawn it,” Sullivan stated while in Italy, where Biden was attending the annual Group of Seven leaders’ summit. “As of now, they continue to support the proposal.”

“I don’t believe there is any inconsistency in Israel’s stance,” Sullivan added.

He emphasized that Hamas had responded with an amended proposal and noted the objective is “to find ways to bridge the remaining gaps and finalize an agreement.”

“The aim is to resolve this as quickly as possible,” he told reporters.

On Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken mentioned that mediators are working to finalize the cease-fire and secure the release of hostages in Gaza. Hamas has proposed multiple changes to the U.S.-backed plan, some of which Blinken said were “workable” while others were not.

Hamas asserts its “amendments” are intended to ensure a permanent cease-fire and the full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza. The cease-fire proposal announced by Biden includes these terms, but Hamas has expressed doubt about Israel’s commitment to implementing them.

The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza has resulted in over 37,100 deaths, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not differentiate between combatants and civilians in its count. The war has severely restricted the flow of food, medicine, and other supplies, leading to widespread hunger among Palestinians. U.N. agencies warn that over 1 million people in Gaza could face extreme starvation by mid-July.

Israel initiated the conflict following Hamas’ attack on October 7, during which militants entered southern Israel, killed approximately 1,200 people—mostly civilians—and took around 250 hostages.