US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Monday as part of the ongoing efforts to achieve a ceasefire in the Gaza war.
Talks with Defence Minister Yoav Gallant were also planned afterwards. On Tuesday morning, he is scheduled to meet Israeli President Isaac Herzog.
Blinken said earlier Monday in Egypt, where he met President Abdel-Fattah al-Sissi, that only the Palestinian Islamist Hamas group had not agreed to the ceasefire plan presented by US President Joe Biden.
"So the only party that has not accepted, the only party that’s not said yes is Hamas. That’s who everyone is waiting on," Blinken said. "But it’s clear that virtually the entire world has come together in support of the proposal, and the only open question is will Hamas say yes."
Representatives of Hamas and Islamic Jihad reiterated at a meeting in Qatar on Monday that any agreement would have to include a complete end to the war, a comprehensive Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, reconstruction of the coastal strip and an end to the blockade.
Biden had presented a draft for a three-phase deal to end the fighting in Gaza, which Israel has already agreed to, according to the US.
"First, let me be very clear: Israel has accepted the proposal. In fact, they were critical in putting it forward," Blinken said in remarks to the press in Cairo. However, the Israeli government has not yet given its clear and public approval to the plan.
His latest Middle East tour is aimed at brokering an end the ongoing Gaza war between Israel and Hamas and is also expected to include Jordan and Qatar and to last until Wednesday.