Blinken Seeks Gaza Ceasefire, But Still Notable Obstacles To Deal

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has claimed that the current round of negotiations is "probably the best, maybe the last opportunity" for a ceasefire in Gaza. Late last week, indirect talks in Doha involving Israel, the US, Qatar and Egypt saw what a joint statement from the mediators talked of 'progress' being made towards an agreement. So far, Hamas - which is not directly involved in this round of talks - has said that any suggestions of progress are an "illusion".

• Blinken has just started a meeting with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu as the US seeks to push the Israeli gov't as close to agreeing on a deal as possible. Amid increasing US frustration with Netanyahu in particular - being viewed by some as obstructing the prospect of a deal - Blinken said that “It is time for everyone to get to yes and to not look for any excuses to say no.”
• BBC: "In a statement on Sunday, Hamas accused [...]Netanyahu of putting "obstacles" in the way of an agreement and "setting new conditions and demands" with the aim of "prolonging the war".
• Earlier today, a spox from the Iranian Foreign Ministry said that a "ceasefire in Gaza is necessary". Went on to say that this issue is separate from that of the killing of Hamas' political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran several weeks ago. The Iranian gov't says that it has a legitimate right to retaliate against Israel, whom it blames for the killing.