US Antony Blinken heading to Israel to press Gaza truce [Video]

WASHINGTON – US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to Israel this weekend to push forward a Gaza ceasefire deal as the United States tries to bridge the gaps in talks in the region, the State Department said.

Blinken will leave on Aug 17 and seek to “conclude the agreement for a ceasefire and release of hostages and detainees through the bridging proposal” presented on Aug 16 during talks in Doha by the US, a State Department statement said.

President Joe Biden earlier on Aug 16 said that “we are closer than we have ever been” to a ceasefire in the 10-month-old Gaza war after two days of talks in the Qatari capital Doha.

“We’re not there yet. It’s much, much closer than it was three days ago. So keep your fingers crossed,” Mr Biden said.

Mr Biden spoke by telephone with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Qatari …