Netanyahu denies that there is pressure within the cabinet not to accept the ceasefire

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denied on Monday that he was under "pressure" from his coalition government to reject a ceasefire proposal presented by US President Joe Biden to end the fighting in Gaza.

Netanyahu has said that "eliminating Hamas" was among the main goals of the war and not "something I'm adding because I was under pressure in the coalition," AP reports.

Many Israelis are urging Netanyahu to embrace Biden's proposal, but far-right allies are threatening to topple his government if he does.

Netanyahu has said that a permanent cease-fire in Gaza would be "unsuccessful" until long-standing conditions for ending the war are met.

US, Egyptian and Qatari mediators pressed Israel and Hamas, saying the proposed deal "provides a roadmap for a permanent ceasefire and an end to the crisis" and gives immediate relief to the hostages and residents of Gaza.

But far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir have said they will quit the government if it accepts the deal.

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That could expose Netanyahu to new elections, scrutiny of the security failures that led to the war and, if he loses the prime ministership, prosecution on longstanding corruption charges.

Biden said Friday that Hamas militants are "no longer capable" of carrying out a large-scale attack on Israel like the one on October 7.

He urged Israel and Hamas to reach an agreement to release about 100 remaining hostages, along with the bodies of about 30 others, for an extended ceasefire.