US must pressure Israel into accepting Gaza ceasefire deal, Hamas says

The United States must pressure Israel to reach a ceasefire and hostage deal agreement with Hamas, a senior official from the Gazan terror group told NBC on Tuesday.

"It is now in the hands of the Americans if they are serious about achieving a ceasefire before Ramadan," NBC quoted the official as saying in a voice note, "to exercise enough pressure on the Israelis."

Hamas negotiators will remain in Cairo for another day at the request of mediators, keeping ceasefire talks going after two days with no breakthrough, another official from Hamas said on Tuesday.

The Cairo talks have been billed as a final hurdle to reach the first extended ceasefire in the war between Hamas and Israel- a 40-day truce during which Israeli hostages would be freed and aid pumped into Gaza - ahead of Ramadan, which is due to begin at the start of next week.

Hamas official: Group negotiators to stay in Cairo for ceasefire talks

"The delegation will remain in Cairo on Tuesday for more talks; they are expected to wrap up this round later today," a Hamas official told Reuters. Egypt's Qahera television also reported the talks had been extended for a third day but said they were "facing difficulties."

Earlier, senior Hamas official Bassem Naim told Reuters the terrorist group had presented its proposal for a ceasefire agreement to the mediators and was now waiting for a response from the Israelis, who have stayed away from this round.

"(Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu doesn't want to reach an agreement, and the ball is now in the Americans' court" to press him for a deal, Naim said.

A senior Israeli official asked about Naim's comments that Israel was holding up the deal, said: "The claim is incorrect. Israel is making every effort to reach an agreement. We are awaiting a response from Hamas."