Hamas must agree to ceasefire for Gaza aid and peace talks, US says

On Friday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the responsibility lies with Hamas to consent to a ceasefire.

This cessation of hostilities would facilitate the delivery of more humanitarian assistance into Gaza and set the stage for discussions regarding an "enduring resolution" to the ongoing war, he said.

"The ball is in their court. We're working intensely on it, and we'll see what they do," Blinken said ahead of a meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.