Pressure point Hostage deaths unleash public fury-but can it bring a ceasefire closer?

Pressure mounted on the Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu this week after his US counterpart Joe Biden accused him of not doing enough to secure a ceasefire deal with Hamas, although protests against Israel's government suffered a blow when a court ordered an early end to a general strike.

- Julian Borger, Quique Kierszenbaum and Andrew Roth

The demonstrations, which broke out last weekend, were prompted by the grim discovery of the bodies of six hostages in Gaza, and brought tens of thousands of Israelis out on to the streets to protest against the government's handling of the war in Gaza and efforts to release dozens of hostages who remain in captivity.

Biden told reporters on Monday that his administration was "very close" to proposing a "final" hostage deal to both sides that has assumed new urgency since the discovery of the bodies, including that of Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg-Polin.

The Washington Post had previously reported that the Biden administration was preparing to propose a "take it or leave it" deal that, if it fails, may mark the end of American-led efforts to negotiate a ceasefire between Israeli and Hamas.

Biden did not reveal details of the new US proposal, and when asked why he thought it could prove successful after months of unsuccessful attempts, said: "Hope springs eternal." But he also indicated his frustration with the Netanyahu government, saying he did not believe the Israeli PM was doing enough to secure a ceasefire.

Netanyahu has remained defiant over Israeli claims to strategic points in Gaza, despite significant internal and international pressure to secure at least a temporary ceasefire in the 11-month-long war.

The Hostage Families Forum vowed that their protests would continue, but the far-right members of Netanyahu's government coalition declared victory after a labour court ruling that the strike had to end at 2.30pm local time.

Even before the court ruling, the strike, called by the Histadrut trade union federation, was not seen as a significant threat to the government.