The spokesperson for the U.S. National Security Council, John Kirby, said that the Biden administration will not allow "extremists," including those in Israel, to derail the ceasefire talks in Gaza.

Kirby stated that U.S. President Joe Biden "will not allow extremists to take things off track, including extremists in Israel, and to make these ridiculous accusations against the agreement."

Specifically, he accused the extremist Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich of making false claims, saying that his assertion that fighting could continue indefinitely was a "grave mistake," and misleading to the Israeli public.

Smotrich announced his opposition to the ceasefire agreement earlier on Friday, stating that the terms would amount to Israel's surrender and accused the U.S. and other international allies of pushing it into a "trap."

Kirby said: "Smotrich is essentially suggesting that the war should continue indefinitely without stopping and without any real concern for the lives of hostages." "The views expressed by Mr. Smotrich would actually endanger the lives of Israeli hostages, his constituents, and American hostages as well."

He also mentioned that the U.S. received assurances from Qatar that Hamas would be represented when talks resume in Cairo or Doha on August 15.