Blinken says Israel agrees to US-backed proposal for ceasefire

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, left, meets with Israel’s President Isaac Herzog, in Tel Aviv on Monday, August 19 (Kevin Mohatt/AP)

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Israel has accepted a proposal to bridge differences holding up a ceasefire and hostage release in Gaza, and he called on Hamas to do the same, without saying whether it had addressed concerns cited by the militant group.

Blinken spoke after holding a two and a half hour meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier in the day, and was expected to travel to Egypt on Tuesday.