Blinken: Israel has accepted the ceasefire proposal, and Hamas has the responsibility to agree

August 20 - Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has accepted the latest cease-fire offer in the Gaza Strip and "the next step will be focused on Hamas agreeing," US Secretary of State Benjamin Blinken said on Monday. Calling the proposed deal a "transitional agreement," Mr. Blinken said "not everything is detailed." The top US diplomat, who is visiting the region for the ninth time since the Hamas attack, said he would travel to Egypt and Qatar, "two key partners" in their efforts to stop the conflict.