Netanyahu pushes back against ceasefire pressure as protests continue across Israel

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday pushed back against a new wave of pressure to reach a ceasefire deal in Gaza after hundreds of thousands of Israelis protested and went on strike, and U.S. President Joe Biden said Netanyahu needed to do more after nearly 11 months of fighting.

Hundreds of thousands of Israelis poured into the streets late Sunday in grief and anger after six hostages were found dead in Gaza. The families and much of the public blamed Netanyahu, saying they could have been returned alive in a deal with Hamas to end the war in Gaza.

Late Monday, several thousand demonstrators gathered outside Netanyahu's home in central Jerusalem, chanting for a deal and carrying coffins draped in the Israeli flag. Scuffles broke out when police snatched away the coffins, and several protesters were arrested.

Thousands more marched outside the headquarters of Netanyahu's Likud party in Tel Aviv, according to Israeli media.

But others support Netanyahu's strategy of maintaining relentless military pressure on Hamas, the militant group behind the Oct. 7 attack into Israel that triggered the war. The general strike was ignored in some areas, reflecting deep political divisions in Israel over a ceasefire deal.

Biden made his comments as he arrived at the White House for a meeting with advisers involved in negotiating a deal. Asked if Netanyahu was doing enough, Biden responded, "No."

He insisted that negotiators remain "very close" to a deal, adding, "Hope springs eternal."

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer's government, meanwhile, said Monday that it's suspending exports of some weapons to Israel because they could be used to break international law. Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the U.K. government had concluded there is a "clear risk" some items could be used to "commit or facilitate a serious violation of international humanitarian law."

He told lawmakers the decision related to about 30 of 350 existing export licences for equipment "that we assess is for use in the current conflict in Gaza," including parts for military planes, helicopters and drones, along with items used for ground targeting.

He said the decision wasn't "a determination of innocence or guilt" about whether Israel had broken international law and noted it wasn't an arms embargo. 

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said on the social media platform X that he was "deeply disheartened" to learn of what he called the U.K.'s sanctions.

Hamas has accused Israel of dragging out months of negotiations over a ceasefire by issuing new demands, including for lasting Israeli control over two strategic corridors in Gaza. Hamas has offered to release all hostages in return for an end to the war, the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces and the release of Palestinian prisoners, including high-profile militants.

Netanyahu has refused to commit to an end to the offensive as part of a ceasefire deal and has pledged "total victory" over Hamas, blaming them for the failure of the negotiations.

When asked about Biden's comments, Netanyahu said pressure should be applied to Hamas, not Israel.