Blinken says ongoing negotiations 'maybe the last' chance for ceasefire deal

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the latest American diplomatic push to reach a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is "probably the best, maybe the last, opportunity" to secure the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza.

At the start of his meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Blinken said "it’s time for it to get done".

"It’s also time to make sure that no one takes any steps that could derail this process. So we’re looking to make sure that there is no escalation, that there are no provocations, that there are no actions that in any way could move us away from getting this deal over the line, or for that matter, escalating the conflict to other places and to greater intensity.

"It is time for everyone to get to yes and to not look for any excuses to say no."