A growing number of Israeli soldiers have threatened to stop fighting against Hamas in Gaza unless the government secures a ceasefire.

Amid claims that some soldiers have already put down arms, some 200 troops signed a letter claiming the 15-month conflict had crossed ethical lines and would refuse to fight unless a truce was signed.

Their rare act of defiance against the Israeli army comes at a time of mounting pressure on Israel and Hamas to wind down the fighting with both outgoing US president Joe Biden and Donald Trump calling for a deal by the Jan 20 inauguration.

Mr Trump said late on Monday night that he expects the ceasefire could be secured as soon as this week. “I understand there’s been a handshake and they’re getting it finished and maybe by the end of the week, but it has to take place,” he told Newsmax.

His statements came just hours after Joe Biden’s last foreign policy speech in office, in which he said Israel and Hamas were “on the brink” of a proposal that he “laid out in detail months ago”.

The Telegraph understands that Israel is willing to withdraw its troops from Gaza after all hostages have been released under the deal.