"We fully support the movement towards a ceasefire and hostage release deal now on the table and as outlined by US President Biden on 31 May 2024," the leaders said in a joint statement.

The statement, published by the White House, noted that this agreement would lead to an immediate ceasefire and rehabilitation of Gaza, together with security assurances for Israelis and Palestinians and opportunities for a more enduring long-term peace and a two-state solution. 

"At this decisive moment, we call on the leaders of Israel as well as Hamas to make whatever final compromises are necessary to close this deal and bring relief to the families of our hostages, as well as those on both sides of this terrible conflict, including the civilian populations."

Besides US President Joe Biden, the statement was signed by leaders of Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, France, Germany, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Spain, Thailand, and the United Kingdom.

A Draft Resolution to UNSC
 

The United States urged on Monday the UN Security Council to support the three-phase plan announced by Biden.

US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said the United States circulated a draft resolution to the 14 other council members to back the proposal for ending the war in Gaza.

Greenfield claimed in a statement that “numerous leaders and governments, including in the region, have endorsed this plan, and that the US calls on the Security Council to join them in calling for the implementation of this deal without delay and further conditions.”

The brief draft resolution, obtained by The Associated Press, would welcome the 31 May deal announced by Biden and call on Hamas “to accept it fully and implement its terms unconditionally and without delay.”

Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri told Reuters on Thursday that while the group welcomed "Biden's ideas," the US draft resolution at the Security Council was dependent on an Israeli ceasefire proposal Hamas had seen and rejected.

"The document...has no mention of ending the aggression or the withdrawal," he said.  

"The Israeli documents speak of open-ended negotiation with no deadline, and it speaks of a stage during which the occupation regains its hostages and resumes the war. We had told the mediators that such a paper wasn't acceptable to us," Abu Zuhri explained.  

No Deal Before Ending Aggression
 

Hamas official Osama Hamdan said in press remarks on Wednesday that Hamas is not willing to discuss any new ideas that do not include ending the Israeli aggression, the withdrawal of the occupation forces from Gaza, and reconstruction, Quds News Network reported.

"We cannot rely on the confused Israeli positions, where Israeli officials differ among themselves", Hamdan said, adding that the Israeli response is divided and that there are conflicting statements from their officials.

The Hamas leader stated that the ball and the response are now in the court of the mediators and the Israelis.

"The occupation does not want to stop the aggression, and there are no guarantees of its response to the mediators' efforts", he added, accusing the US of being a partner in the Israeli aggression and describing it as a mediator that can not be relied upon.

A new round of Negotiations
 

A source with knowledge of the negotiations confirmed to AFP that a meeting had taken place on Wednesday between mediators (Qatar and Egypt) with Hamas in Doha to discuss a deal for a truce in Gaza and the exchange of captives and prisoners.

Hamas political chief Ismael Haniyeh said Hamas would "deal seriously and positively" with any offer meeting the group's demands.

Biden has outlined what he called a three-phase Israeli plan that would halt the fighting for six weeks while captives are exchanged for Palestinian prisoners and aid is stepped up.

Since then, Israel has been sending contradicting signals about its position on the deal presented by Biden.

On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the plan outlined by Biden as "partial."

Netanyahu insisted that there were gaps between that proposal and Israel’s stance, saying in a Knesset meeting, “The claim that we agreed to a ceasefire without our conditions being met is incorrect”.