Biden: no ceasefire agreement in Gaza soon

President Joe Biden speaks to the media as he attends a skydiving event on the first day of the G7 summit, in Savelletri, Italy, June 13, 2024. Photo by Kevin Lamarque/ Reuters

BORGO EGNAZIA, Italy — President Joe Biden said Thursday he does not expect to reach a ceasefire agreement for Gaza in the near future, amid a proposal backed by the United States and enjoying global support has not been fully adopted by Israel or Hamas.

Biden said international leaders at the Group of Seven summit in Italy had discussed the ceasefire, but when asked by reporters whether a truce deal would be reached soon, Biden responded simply: “No.”

WATCH: Israel and Hamas appear far from a ceasefire agreement

Earlier on Thursday, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan pushed back against claims that Israel is not fully committed to the proposed ceasefire with Hamas.

“Israel has provided this proposal. It has been on the table for some time. Israel has not contradicted it or backed away from it,” Sullivan said. Hamas responded to the plan by proposing amendments, and Sullivan said the goal was to “determine how we will work to close the remaining gaps and reach an agreement.”

Hamas says the requested changes are aimed at ensuring a permanent ceasefire and a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza. The ceasefire proposal announced by Biden includes these provisions, but Hamas has expressed distrust in Israel's implementation of these conditions.

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President Joe Biden speaks to the media as he attends a skydiving event on the first day of the G7 summit, in Savelletri, Italy, June 13, 2024. Photo by Kevin Lamarque/ Reuters