Gaza war: Ceasefire between Israel and Hamas close to the finish line, says Antony Blinken

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Friday that a long-sought ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas was in sight, saying negotiators were “moving toward the finish line”.

The United States is working with Qatar and Egypt to achieve a ceasefire in the Gaza conflict and to release hostages held since October 7 and to bring more humanitarian aid to the enclave.

Blinken said at the Aspen Security Forum in Colorado that after much pressure and diplomacy, Hamas and Israel had agreed to the ceasefire framework outlined by US President Joe Biden in May, but added that some issues still need to be resolved.

“I believe we have reached the 10-yard line and are moving toward the finish line of reaching an agreement that will lead to a ceasefire, bring the hostages home, and put us on a better path to building lasting peace and stability,” Blinken said.

“There are still some questions that need to be clarified and negotiated. That is exactly what we are doing right now.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to travel to Washington next week and address a joint session of the U.S. Congress on July 24.

Biden expects to meet with him, depending on the president’s recovery from his Covid-19 illness, the White House said on Thursday.

When asked about Netanyahu’s visit, Blinken said Washington wanted to bring the ceasefire agreement across the finish line.

He added that it was crucial that there was a clear plan for the next steps and that talks with Netanyahu would likely revolve around that.

Israel vowed to wipe out Hamas after the group’s fighters killed what Israeli officials said were 1,200 people and took more than 250 hostage in an attack on October 7.

According to health authorities in the Gaza Strip, at least 38,848 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli offensive since then.