Talks aimed at reaching a ceasefire in Gaza have been “constructive” and will continue over the weekend, the White House has said.
National security spokesperson John Kirby said some progress had been made in the Egyptian capital Cairo as he pushed back against reports that the negotiations were close to collapse.
Mr Kirby said all sides needed to come together to work towards implementing a proposed agreement.
He said discussions should include Hamas representatives as part of the negotiations.
The talks have so far included negotiators from Israel, the United States, Egypt and Qatar, but not Hamas.
Mr Kirby said the US continues to monitor Hamas’s backer Iran and was not taking anything for granted.
He added the US believes Iran is “still prepared to do something should they choose to do so”.
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There has been speculation this month that Iran and Lebanese armed group Hezbollah were poised to attack Israel to avenge the assassinations of two of their leaders.
US secretary of state Anthony Blinken called on Hamas to accept a ceasefire deal earlier this week.
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It came after Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu had agreed to the proposals, which would see a ceasefire and the return of Israeli hostages.
Last week, a Hamas spokesperson told Sky News that President Biden’s optimism over a ceasefire deal was an effort to “keep everything sounding positive in the media”.
CIA director Bill Burns and US Middle East envoy Brett McGurk are also representing the US in the talks.
Read more from Sky News:Tanker carrying 150,000 tonnes of oil hit in Red Sea attackDaughter of hostage killed in captivity calls for ceasefire deal
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“We’re in Cairo. They’re in Cairo. We need Hamas to participate, and we need to get down to the brass tacks of locking in these details,” Mr Kirby said.
“And that’s what we’re focused on here in the next, coming days here over the course of the weekend.”
Source : Sky News
