US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in Israel to negotiate a ceasefire in Gaza and secure the release of hostages held by Hamas.

Hamas has not yet agreed to the proposed deal, despite Israeli compromises.

Efforts are underway to increase humanitarian aid in Gaza, including the opening of the Erez border crossing by Israel for relief supplies and planning a US-led maritime aid corridor.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned of a potential offensive in Rafah should negotiations fail, irrespective of a ceasefire agreement.

The ceasefire negotiations are being mediated by Egypt, Qatar, and the US, with Blinken emphasizing the importance of reaching an agreement and attributing potential failure to Hamas.