Antony Blinken returns to Middle East as Israel-Hamas ceasefire hangs in balance

US secretary of state Antony Blinken (Jacquelyn Martin/AP, File)

US secretary of state Antony Blinken returns to the Middle East this week as a proposed Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal hangs in the balance.

With no firm response yet from Hamas to the proposal received 10 days ago, Mr Blinken on Monday will start his eighth diplomatic mission to the region since the conflict began in October.