WH Admits 'Frustration' w/Lack Of Deal, PM Reiterates Philadelphi Stance

Wires reporting comments from White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby regarding the prospect of a ceasefire deal in Gaza. Says that the exchange of hostages in a ceasefire deal has not been agreed to. Adds that the killing of six hostages by Hamas 'has made reaching a ceasefire more difficult.' Says that "Without question, we here in the administration are frustrated that we still haven't been able to conclude this deal,"

• This comes after Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu spoke earlier today to Fox News. In the interview, he said that reports suggesting a deal with Hamas is in the office are false. Netanyahu: "Hamas consistently refuses to make a deal, so it's not, you know, the report that there's a deal out there that the only thing holding it up is the Philadelphia tunnel is not merely not true, it's just a direct falsehood,"
• Netanyahu: "...if you want to release the hostages and you want to make sure that Gaza doesn't pose a threat to Israel again, you've got to keep the Philadelphia corridor … and that's what we're really doing right now."
• Reports earlier this week suggested Netanyahu's stance on the Philadelphi corridor - the land between Egypt and Gaza - was one of the major hold-ups. Under the US 'bridging proposal', the IDF would withdraw from the area as part of a ceasefire deal in exchange for the release of hostages.