A building destroyed after an Israeli air strike on Rafah, Gaza Strip, March 4, 2024. (Photo: THX/VNA)

At a meeting with the Qatari Prime Minister in Washington on Tuesday, Blinken said an immediate ceasefire can bring the hostages home, can dramatically increase the amount of humanitarian assistance getting to Palestinians who desperately need it, and can set the conditions for an enduring resolution.

Negotiations between Israel and Hamas over a ceasefire and release of hostages continued intermittently for a third day with no sign of agreement. Israel and the mediators reportedly had agreed on a proposal for a roughly six-week pause in fighting in exchange for the release of hostages taken by Hamas and humanitarian aid delivered to Gaza before the start of the holy month of Ramadan this Friday.  

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization said an estimated 8,000 patients need to be evacuated from Gaza but so far very few have been transferred outside the besieged territory.