The US appeal, made on May 31 by President Joe Biden, has become a public test for both sides to see if they are willing to stop fighting on any terms that don't meet their professed goals - complete crushing of Hamas for Israel or complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza for Hamas.

The world is waiting for indications that the diplomatic efforts are working.

President Biden publicly presented a ceasefire proposal for the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, which had previously been under negotiation among US, Qatari, Egyptian mediators, and the two parties.

The proposal, which was similar to previous deals, called for a three-phase ceasefire, with the first phase focusing on a mutual calm between the sides.

The US president put his full weight behind the appeal for both parties to accept the deal, which had been under discussion for months.

The text discusses a proposed six-week ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, where Israeli forces would withdraw from populated areas of Gaza in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

Hamas would also release some hostages they had seized during the October 7 attacks in Israel.

The proposal calls for a full release of remaining hostages and an Israeli withdrawal in later phases, but the terms are vague.

US President Joe Biden urged both sides to accept the deal, but neither Israel nor Hamas had agreed by Friday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the terms of the proposal were not as publicly described and that Israel would not cease fighting until the "destruction" of Hamas' military and leadership.

Former Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres' senior adviser, Nimrod Novik, suggested that Biden's public statement about the proposal was an attempt to pressure Netanyahu to accept it.

The US is continuing its efforts to secure a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel in Gaza, despite Israel's objections.

US diplomats are pushing for a UN Security Council resolution demanding a permanent ceasefire, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken is making an eighth visit to the Middle East to promote the proposal.

A former US intelligence official, Jonathan Panikoff, believes the US will keep pushing for a ceasefire until all options have been exhausted.

The US, led by CIA director Bill Burns and Middle East adviser Brett McGurk, is working to gather support for a ceasefire proposal in the Middle East.

The Group of Seven leading global economies and countries with hostages in Gaza have endorsed the plan.

US officials, including President Biden and Secretary of State Blinken, are reaching out to Arab governments to rally support.

While many allies welcome the initiative, there is little sign that it has changed the political equation in Israel, where Prime Minister Netanyahu's far-right coalition partners have threatened to bring down the government if he accepts the proposal.

Netanyahu, trailing in polls and facing a corruption trial, has no incentive to call for another election.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid has offered to help with a hostage deal but their enmity makes an alliance unlikely.

Benny Gantz, a centrist member of Netanyahu's cabinet, is expected to resign on Saturday, weakening Netanyahu's international credibility and leaving him more reliant on far-right coalition partners who advocate for reoccupying Gaza and opposing the ceasefire proposal.

Netanyahu may be pressured into making a peace deal due to popular protests or the threat of a denunciation by Biden, according to Novik.

Hamas is expected to respond to Biden's proposal in the coming days, but they will not accept any deal without a permanent ceasefire, complete Israeli troop withdrawal from Gaza, a prisoner exchange, and other conditions.

Hamas, a Palestinian militant group, has its political leaders based abroad.

However, any proposals must be relayed to Yahya Sinwar, a military leader in Gaza, whose opinion is crucial.

Sinwar and other military leaders reside in underground tunnels, some up to 100 feet long, and are believed to have taken hostages from foreign countries to deter attacks.