US State Dept: Obstacles To Ceasefire Are Not Insurmountable

US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller has told reporters that the US, "believes it is possible to reach a [ceasefire] agreement between Israel and Hamas," following a meeting today between Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Israeli War Cabinet member Benny Gantz in Washington D.C.

• Miller says Blinken and Gantz "discussed the ongoing conflict in Gaza," and Blinken reiterated that the US, "continues to support Israel's right to ensure the terrorist attack of October 7 can never be repeated," but stressed that Blinken also called on Gantz to press for greater aid to be allowed into Gaza.
• Miller says that Blinken stated, before a separate meeting this morning Qatar Prime Minister Mohammad al-Thani that, "the current situation is unacceptable and unsustainable... Israel must take additional steps," to allow for aid into Gaza.
• Miller, echoing recent comments from Blinken and Vice President Kamala Harris, says "it is on Hamas to agree to [a ceasefire]," referring to Hamas' recent objections to a short-term truce without guarantees of an extended ceasefire.
• In response to a press question, Miller says that although negotiations in Cairo have failed to reach a compromise yet, "in our view the obstacles are not insurmountable," adding that the six-week ceasefire/hostage exchange proposal that Israel, the US, Qatar, and Egypt "put on the table," is "one Hamas should agree to."