Washington hit back on Monday after Israeli media slammed U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry for his latest efforts in negotiating a cease-fire in the region.

Deputy National Security adviser for President Barack Obama, Tony Blinken, said the criticisms were "misinformed" or that they attempted to misinform, adding that Israel could find no better defender than Kerry.

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Israel's media has carried out a barrage of nonstop criticism towards Kerry for his attempts to include Turkey and Qatar - two nations believed by Israel to have strong ties with the Hamas - into the cease-fire negotiations.

Kerry was also accused for dismissing some of Israel's demands during negotiations.

Israel's previously supportive Haaretz publication referred to the Kerry's negotiations as a mockery, suggesting that Israel's defense minister may be right when he had described the former as "obsessive and messianic."

The column went on to say that the U.S. State Secretary had "ruined everything," and noted that Israel's senior officials had called Kerry's negotiation proposal a "strategic terrorist attack."

Blinken defended against the accusations, claiming that the proposal included all key elements contained in an earlier proposal that the Israelis have agreed to almost two weeks ago.

While Kerry did not directly address the criticisms on Monday as he spoke in front of the Center for American Progress on Monday, Kerry reiterated Washington's stance to continue its efforts to support Israel in the demilitarization of Gaza.

He said that a lasting resolution to the Gaza crisis would include the "disarmament" of the Hamas and other terrorist groups.

Washington's pushback has come at a time when U.S. officials have grown increasingly concerned over the steady rise of the number of Palestinian casualties in the Gaza Strip.

While the U.S. maintains its support for Israel's right to protect itself against the Hamas, the Obama administration has grown increasingly concerned over the number of Palestinian casualties in the Gaza Strip.

But a cease-fire may not happen in the near future as Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for its people to prepare for a "prolonged campaign" against the Hamas on Monday.

TagsJohn Kerry, Israel, Gaza, Tony Blinken, Haaretz, Obama, cease fire, Palestine, Gaza conflict, Benjamin Netanyahu