Israel 'unanimously rejects' Kerry's truce proposal

Israeli cabinet members have "unanimously rejected" U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry's proposed ceasefire terms, according to The Times of Israel.

The Associated Press has confirmed the news, which comes from an Israeli official and has been reported by Israeli media. According to reports on Israeli TV channels, the country's Security Cabinet rejected Kerry's proposed truce because it would impede the Israeli effort to eliminate Hamas' military tunnels. An Israeli official told Reuters the cabinet wants the proposal amended before Israel can agree to it.

Earlier on Friday, Kerry had proposed a week-long truce in the Gaza Strip. Kerry's proposed truce would have started this Sunday, according to The New York Times. During the proposed truce, Israel and Hamas would "hold indirect talks about easing the border closure of the blockaded Gaza Strip," according to the AP.

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Hamas, meanwhile, has not responded to the ceasefire proposal, the BBC reports, but it "will not agree to a deal without an end to Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip."