What's happened
Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken is working to secure a cease-fire deal in Gaza, urging Hamas to accept the proposal and Israel to delay a ground invasion into Rafah. Tensions have risen as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vows to invade Rafah regardless of truce talks, sparking pressure from families of hostages for a ceasefire deal.
Why it matters
The ongoing efforts to secure a cease-fire deal in Gaza are crucial in preventing further escalation of the conflict and ensuring the safe return of hostages. The decisions made by both Hamas and Israel in response to these diplomatic efforts will have a significant impact on the lives of civilians in the region and the future trajectory of the conflict.
What the papers say
The New York Times reports on Secretary Blinken's efforts to secure a cease-fire deal, contrasting Netanyahu's pledge to invade Rafah regardless of truce talks. The Guardian highlights the pressure on Netanyahu from families of hostages for a ceasefire deal amid preparations for a ground assault on Rafah.
How we got here
The conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza has been ongoing, with efforts to secure a cease-fire deal and the safe return of hostages becoming increasingly urgent. The city of Rafah in southern Gaza has been a focal point, with Israel planning a ground invasion despite diplomatic efforts.
Common question
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Israel, formally known as the State of Israel, is a country in Western Asia, located on the southeastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea and the northern shore of the Red Sea.
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Hamas is a Palestinian Sunni-Islamic fundamentalist militant organization. It has a social service wing, Dawah, and a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades.
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Rafah is a Palestinian city in the southern Gaza Strip. It is the district capital of the Rafah Governorate, located 30 kilometers south of Gaza City. Rafah's population of 152,950 is overwhelmingly made up of former Palestinian refugees.
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Antony John Blinken is an American government official who served as United States Deputy Secretary of State from 2015 to 2017 and Deputy National Security Advisor from 2013 to 2015 under President Barack Obama.
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Benjamin Netanyahu is an Israeli politician serving as Prime Minister of Israel since 2009, and previously from 1996 to 1999. Netanyahu is also the Chairman of the Likud – National Liberal Movement.
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The Gaza Strip, or simply Gaza, is a self-governing Palestinian territory on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, that borders Egypt on the southwest for 11 kilometers and Israel on the east and north along a 51 km border.
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Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. is an American politician who is the 46th and current president of the United States. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the 47th vice president from 2009 to 2017 and represented Delaware in the United States Senate