What's happened
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in the Middle East to promote a ceasefire proposal for the Israel-Gaza conflict. Hamas shows signs of rejecting the latest Israeli proposal, while US President Biden urges Qatar to pressure Hamas to accept the terms.
Why it matters
US efforts to broker a ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza conflict are crucial for reducing hostilities and achieving peace in the region. The rejection by Hamas and the push for acceptance highlight the challenges in reaching a diplomatic resolution.
What the papers say
According to The Times of Israel, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is pushing for a Gaza ceasefire deal, while Al Jazeera reports on Hamas's response to the US-backed proposal. The Washington Post covers Blinken's call for governments to press Hamas to accept the ceasefire deal.
How we got here
The Israel-Gaza conflict has been ongoing, with efforts to reach a ceasefire and secure the release of hostages. The involvement of the US, Qatar, and Egypt in mediation reflects the international interest in resolving the conflict.
Common question
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Hamas is a Palestinian Sunni-Islamic fundamentalist militant organization. It has a social service wing, Dawah, and a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades.
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Israel, formally known as the State of Israel, is a country in Western Asia, located on the southeastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea and the northern shore of the Red Sea.
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The Gaza Strip, or simply Gaza, is a self-governing Palestinian territory on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, that borders Egypt on the southwest for 11 kilometers and Israel on the east and north along a 51 km border.
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Antony John Blinken is an American government official who served as United States Deputy Secretary of State from 2015 to 2017 and Deputy National Security Advisor from 2013 to 2015 under President Barack Obama.
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Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. is an American politician who is the 46th and current president of the United States. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the 47th vice president from 2009 to 2017 and represented Delaware in the United States Senate
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The United States of America, commonly known as the United States or America, is a country mostly located in central North America, between Canada and Mexico.
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Benjamin Netanyahu is an Israeli politician serving as Prime Minister of Israel since 2009, and previously from 1996 to 1999. Netanyahu is also the Chairman of the Likud – National Liberal Movement.
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Doha is the capital and most populous city of the State of Qatar. It has a population of 956,460. The city is located on the coast of the Persian Gulf in the east of the country, North of Al Wakrah and South of Al Khor.