WASHINGTON, June  3, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - Israel has shown willingness to agree
to a ceasefire and hostage release deal set out by US President Joe Biden and
it is up to Hamas to make a move, a top White House official said Monday.

US National Security Jake Sullivan's comments came despite growing doubts
over the plan, which Biden described as an Israeli initiative but has seen
mixed reactions from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government.

"We've seen again over the weekend from Israel a willingness to step
forward and do a deal," Sullivan told the Global Impact Forum in Washington.

"All of those people who have been calling for a ceasefire for all of this
time, they need to train their eyes on Hamas this week and say, 'it's time come
to the table, do this deal.'"

Sullivan, who has made a series of visits to the Middle East since Hamas's
October 7 attacks on Israel triggered the war, said a deal would be the "best
thing" for the people of Gaza, Israel and the United States.

Biden on Friday presented what he labelled an Israeli three-phase plan that
would end the conflict, free all hostages and lead to the reconstruction of the
devastated Palestinian territory without Hamas in power.

However, Netanyahu's office quickly stressed that Israel would push on with
the war until all of its goals including the end of Hamas as a military and
political force are achieved.

A government spokesman added on Monday that the Israeli premier viewed the
plan Biden set out as "partial."

Hamas on Friday said it viewed Biden's outline "positively", but since then
it has made no official comment.

The White House insisted on Monday that the peace plan was Israel's own,
and not drafted by Washington to put pressure on its key ally.

"It is an Israeli proposal. It's one that we, and they, worked on through
some intense diplomacy," National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told
reporters.

Biden informed Israel in advance that he would make the announcement, he
said.

"The president felt that it was important to lay it out there publicly so
that the whole world could see what was in here," added Kirby.