US National Security Council Spokesperson John Kirby says the “biggest obstacle” to a ceasefire deal is Hamas, as Netanyahu remains steadfast on having Israeli forces at the Philadelphi Corridor, Al Jazeera reports.

During a press briefing, Kirby added that the killing of six captives had made achieving a deal harder.

Israel has accused Hamas of killing six captives last week after retrieving their bodies in southern Gaza — a claim Hamas has denied and accused Israel of killing them in an airstrike.