A senior Hamas official, Mr Sami Abu Zohri, criticized Washington and the appeals of the West to the organization to accept a ceasefire proposal promoted by US President Joe Biden, saying it is “as if Hamas is blocking the deal”.

In comments carried by Hamas media, Abu Zuhri said that Israel is not seriously interested on reaching a deal in Gaza, and how it is still maneuvering under US cover.

Biden presented one three-phase ceasefire proposal by Israel to Hamas for an end to the war in Gaza that has killed tens of thousands of people and caused a humanitarian crisis.

The proposal calls for a ceasefire, the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, and the reconstruction of Gaza.

Hamas said on Friday that it has a positive view of the content of the proposal.

The United States said on Sunday that if Hamas accepts the proposed plan, he expects Israel to follow suit.

“It was an Israeli proposal. We have every expectation that if Hamas agrees to the proposal, as conveyed to them, an Israeli proposal, that Israel will say yes,” White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told ABC News.

Qatar, which mediates between Israel and Hamas, stressed that there should be a clear position by both sides in order to reach a ceasefire agreement.

“We expect a clear Israeli position that [θα] represents the entire government in response to the US proposal on Gaza,” Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari said.