US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has called on Hamas to accept a ceasefire agreement that would secure the release of hostages in Gaza.
On Monday he said that Israel had accepted the latest proposal brokered by the United States after meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem.
Blinken is expected to travel to Egypt and Qatar for further talks. Together with the US, the two countries have spent months trying to negotiate an end to the war between Israel and Gaza, which is now in his 11th month.
The US hopes an agreement from Israel will deter Iran and Lebanon’s Hezbollah from retaliation over the targeted killings of two top militants.
Blinken said: “In a very constructive meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu today, he confirmed to me that Israel supports the bridging proposal”.
He did not disclose details of the proposed deal but said “the next important step is for Hamas to say yes”.
Negotiators would spend the next few days ensuring there is a “clear understandings on implementing the agreement”, he added.
Both parties had to deal with “complex issues” requiring “hard decisions by the leaders”, he said.
According to reports by AP, Hamas has said it is losing faith in the US and its ability to act as a mediator.
The terrorist group has accused the US of being on Israel’s side.
One sticking point in negotiations has been over Israel’s demand for control over two strategic corridors inside Gaza.
Hamas has rejected Israel’s demand – but Blinken did not reveal whether the issue has been addressed in the latest proposal.
Netanyahu said he had a “good and important meeting” with Blinken and appreciated the “understanding that the United States has shown to our vital security interests, along with our shared efforts to release our hostages”.
This is the Secretary of State’s ninth visit to the Middle East since the Hamas attack on October 7.
Blinken described the latest proposal as a “decisive moment,” and “maybe the last” opportunity to free the hostages and secure a ceasefire deal.
He said: “It’s also time to make sure that no one takes any steps that could derail this process. And so we’re working to make sure that there is no escalation, that there are no provocations, that there are no actions that in any way move us away from getting this deal over the line, or for that matter, escalating the conflict to other places and to greater intensity.”
