US officials toned down their optimism and expectation for a Gaza ceasefire on Tuesday after comments by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu raised concerns that a deal may not be as imminent as Biden administration officials have been portraying.But after Hamas militants killed six hostages, including one Israeli-American, the urgency to reach a deal that would see the release of the remaining hostages in exchange for a ceasefire in Gaza has increased.For the latest updates on the Israel-Palestine conflict, visit our dedicated page.Speaking to reporters during a phone call, White House National Security Council Spokesman John Kirby said: “Clearly, what happened over the weekend underscores how important it is to get this done as quickly as possible.”Kirby condemned Hamas for the killing of the hostages but stressed that the US was as intent as ever to “bridge” the final gaps between Israel and Hamas for a deal to be put in place.The State Department said that it was time to