Blinken to arrive in Israel to push for Gaza ceasefire

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will arrive in Israel on Sunday to push for a ceasefire in Gaza. 

Earlier, US officials said they were optimistic about bringing a deal over the line but said work still needed to be done to make it happen.

"What we've done is taken the gaps that remain and have bridged those in a way that we think basically is a deal that is now ready to close and implement and move forward," a senior Biden administration official told reporters on Friday.

Blinken's tenth visit to the region since the war began in October 7 comes amid feared regional escalation. 

Iran has threatened to retaliate against Israel after the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 21.