WH: Ceasefire Proposal Presented To Hamas, No Rafah Operation Imminent

Wires carrying comments from White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby briefing reporters on the Middle East. Kirby says that the latest ceasefire/hostage exchange proposal, brokered in Cairo over the weekend with assistance by CIA Director Bill Burns, has been presented to Hamas and is "awaiting a response."

• Kirby's comments appear to support reports that the ultimatum that Biden delivered to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week has pushed Israel slightly closer to a ceasefire compromise and slightly further away from an IDF operation in Rafah.
• Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs Majed Al Ansari told the BBC earlier today that Qatar is "encouraged” by hostage talks and added: "If you ask me if I'm more optimistic today than I was a couple of days ago..."
• Notably, Kirby says that there is, "no date set for new Rafah talks," indicating that presenting alternative US proposals to an IDF ground operation has become a less pressing issue for the White House.
• On the ground in Gaza, there has been a more pronounced drawing down of IDF troops since the Biden-Netanyahu call, which points towards Israel fulfilling some of Hamas' ceasefire demands.
• Kirby also notes, as he has done for past few weeks there is, "no sign major ground operation in Rafah is imminent."
• Finally, Kirby notes that White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan will meet with Israeli Opposition Leader Yair Lapid later today in Washington DC. Lapid was scheduled to meet Secretary of State Antony Blinken as 11:00 ET 17:00 BST.