The United States has called on Hamas to accept a Gaza ceasefire proposal after securing Israel's support.
Speaking after a meeting with the Israeli prime minister, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Benjamin Netanyahu had accepted the proposal that would lead to a ceasefire and see the return of Israeli hostages.
The U.S. politician did not specify whether the so-called bridge proposal addressed Israel's demands for control of two strategic corridors inside Gaza, which Hamas has said is a non-starter, or other issues that have long dogged negotiations.
In what Mr. Blinken described as a “very constructive” meeting, he said settler violence in the West Bank had come up in discussions with Mr. Netanyahu — but the secretary of state did not elaborate.
Mr. Blinken added that he would also soon travel to Egypt and Qatar, and that Israel had committed to sending a team of experts to both countries.
The United States, Egypt and Qatar have been trying for months to reach an agreement, but negotiations have repeatedly failed.
The Secretary of State had earlier said that the latest attempt at a deal was probably the best and perhaps the last opportunity, urging both sides to reach an agreement.
Despite expressions of optimism from the United States and the fact that Mr Netanyahu's office described the meeting as positive, both Israel and Hamas have signalled that any deal would be difficult.
Hamas on Sunday accused Mr Netanyahu of “thwarting the efforts of mediators” and Turkey said Hamas envoys had told it
that American officials were “painting too optimistic a picture.”
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