Netanyahu Under Fire

THE viability of a United Statesbacked proposal to wind down the war in Gaza has been cast into doubt, after Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would only be willing to agree to a "partial" ceasefire deal that would not end the conflict.

Mr Netanyahu's comments have sparked an uproar from families of Israeli hostages held by Hamas since last October.

In an television interview broadcast late on Sunday, the Israeli leader said he was "prepared to make a partial deal - this is no secret - that will return to us some of the people," a reference to the roughly 120 hostages still held in the Gaza Strip.

Mr Netanyahu added: "But we are committed to continuing the war after a pause, in order to complete the goal of eliminating Hamas. I'm not willing to give up on that."