Blinken goes to the Middle East again to talk about Gaza

Washington, along with mediators Qatar and Egypt, is trying to reach an agreement between Israel and Hamas to end the war and release Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners.

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken will travel to Egypt, where he will meet with Egyptian officials to discuss a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages. This was reported by the US State Department on Monday, September 16.

It said Blinken would "discuss efforts to reach an agreement that would secure the release of all hostages, alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people and help establish broader regional security."

The statement mentions only one stop in Egypt, and it appears Blinken will not travel to Israel during that visit.

The US has said that efforts to reach an agreement between Israel and Hamas are nearing the final stage. The biggest hurdles are Israel's requirement to maintain its forces to create a buffer zone between Gaza and Egypt, and the details of exchanging hostages for Palestinian prisoners held in Israel.

Hamas said its negotiators reaffirmed their readiness for an "immediate ceasefire in Gaza" based on a previous US offer without new conditions from either side.