President Joe Biden hopes for a ceasefire "by next Monday" in the Israel-Hamas war, pausing to offer his reflections while enjoying another much-favored ice cream break.

His comments, made after taping an appearance with talk show host Seth Meyers,  followed reports of some progress reached in ongoing negotiations involving Israel and Hamas terrorist representatives in Qatar.

But that progress was short-lived, as Hamas continued to insist that Israel end the war and leave Gaza as a condition to any hostage release. That demand effectively would mean Israel would lose the war and Hamas could return to rule.