Two far-right members of the Israeli cabinet — Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir — have criticised the push for a ceasefire, demanding instead the destruction of Hamas and pushing on with the attacks on Gaza, according to Al Jazeera.

To keep them on his side, Netanyahu is pushing for the Israeli army to hold much more of Gaza than it did when the last ceasefire came into effect in January.

The government has said it plans to build a concentration zone for some 600,000 people in this area, a plan which has been met with widespread local and international condemnation.

Hamas is fundamentally opposed to leaving so much land under direct Israeli control or the creation of the camp, and demands that Israeli forces withdraw to the lines established before the January ceasefire.

It has also pushed for stronger guarantees that any pause in hostilities would lead to a permanent end to the war.