U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced on Monday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had accepted a "bridging proposal" from Washington to address disagreements hindering a ceasefire deal in Gaza. Blinken emphasized that Hamas now needs to agree to the proposal, which is seen as possibly the last opportunity for a deal.

The announcement followed a 2.5-hour meeting with Netanyahu and other Israeli officials, during which Blinken highlighted the urgency of the situation. Although talks in Qatar last week failed to produce a breakthrough, they are expected to resume this week based on the U.S. proposal.

Blinken's visit comes as U.S. President Joe Biden faces increasing election-year pressure over his stance on the conflict, with concerns about Muslim and Arab American votes in key states. The situation remains tense, with Hamas resuming suicide bombings and Israeli strikes continuing in Gaza, resulting in significant casualties.

Despite some optimism, both Israel and Hamas have indicated that reaching an agreement will be difficult. Israel insists that the war must end with the dismantling of Hamas as a military and political entity, while Hamas demands a permanent ceasefire, not a temporary one. Key sticking points include Israel's military presence in Gaza, Palestinian movement within the territory, and the specifics of a prisoner exchange.

Hamas officials have criticized the U.S. for what they see as favoritism toward Israel, with senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan accusing Washington of being swayed by Israeli pressure.

Blinken, on his ninth visit to the region since the war began in October 2023, is scheduled to visit Egypt and Qatar after his meetings in Israel. Further talks in Cairo this week are contingent on an agreement over a security mechanism for the Philadelphia Corridor between Egypt and Gaza. The U.S. has proposed an international presence in the area for up to six months, which may be acceptable to the parties involved.

The conflict has caused widespread devastation in Gaza, displacing nearly all of its 2.3 million residents and leading to severe humanitarian crises. The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas gunmen attacked Israeli communities, killing around 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages. Since then, Israeli military actions have resulted in significant casualties and displacement in Gaza.

Hostage families in Israel continue to protest, urging a deal to be reached, while in Gaza, many Palestinians express skepticism about Blinken's visit, fearing it will only lead to more destruction. The conflict has also heightened tensions across the Middle East, with ongoing clashes between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, raising concerns about a broader escalation.