Blinken has a solution: Apply pressure, they have to agree

"My message to governments across the region, to the people of the region, is if you want a ceasefire, put pressure on Hamas to say yes," Blinken told reporters before leaving Egypt.

The US Secretary of State arrived today in the Middle East, as part of US efforts to accept the ceasefire plan proposed by President Joseph Biden and end the war in Gaza, Voice of America reports.

Blinken, after a meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in Cairo, the first stop of a new Middle East tour, said that Hamas is the only one that has not yet accepted the proposal, which Washington says Israel has already supported.

El-Sisi stated that it is important to remove obstacles to humanitarian aid to the residents of Gaza.

From Egypt, Blinken is going to Israel where he is meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Galant.

The trip will continue in Qatar and Jordan, where they will attend a conference on humanitarian aid for Gaza.

US officials said Israel would accept the ceasefire proposal, which includes an initial cessation of fighting, the release of some hostages from Gaza, the release of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, an increase in humanitarian aid for Palestinians, the withdrawal of Israeli troops from populated areas of Gaza and the return of Palestinian civilians to their homes and settlements.

Hamas neither accepted nor rejected the plan, which the American president publicly stated more than a week ago.

Meanwhile, the US has called for a vote on its draft UN Security Council resolution, calling on Hamas to accept the proposed ceasefire agreement.