US ‘working intensively’ to ‘bridge the remaining gap’ for Gaza cease-fire deal: Blinken

By Iclal Turan

WASHINGTON (AA) - The US said Friday it is "working intensively" with Tel Aviv, Qatar and Egypt to "bridge the remaining gap" to reach a temporary cease-fire and hostage agreement between Israel and Hamas.

Speaking to reporters during a news conference with Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg in Vienna, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed that Hamas presented a proposal for a cease-fire and prisoner swap deal although he refused to "get into the details."

"We have conversations that are happening now as we speak here, and I am convinced they’ll go on into the coming days," he said.

Blinken said Israel has sent back a negotiating team to pursue the talks and it "reflects the sense both of possibility and of urgency" to reach a deal which would allow the entry of more humanitarian assistance into Gaza.

Hamas said its stance involves a cease-fire in Gaza, the delivery of aid, the return of displaced Palestinians to their homes and the Israeli army’s withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. It added that it also included a prisoner swap deal with Israel.

Meanwhile, Israel approved Friday plans for a ground invasion of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, where more than 1.4 million Palestinians are sheltering.

"Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu approved plans for a military operation in Rafah, and the army is operationally preparing for it and for the evacuation of residents," Netanyahu's office said in a statement without providing details.

Asked about the plans, Blinken said the US has not yet seen the plan.

The US repeatedly said it does not support an operation in Rafah without a "credible and implementable humanitarian assistance plan."