Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing intense pressure from both inside and outside the country to end the war in Gaza, as military casualties mount and public anger grows.
Netanyahu is ready to begin negotiations to achieve a lasting ceasefire, but only after a temporary ceasefire agreement is reached and Hamas completely lays down its weapons.
He has also been criticized following controversial plans to build a new humanitarian city in southern Gaza to house hundreds of thousands of Palestinians if a ceasefire is reached.
The plan has been criticized by various parties, including the UN Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), which described it as resembling a 'concentration camp'.
Israeli media reports also revealed that the country's security agencies themselves do not support the proposal.
