What's happened
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is actively involved in pushing for a ceasefire and hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, with negotiations showing signs of progress.
Why it matters
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's diplomatic efforts to broker a ceasefire and hostage release deal in Gaza are crucial for potentially ending the conflict, alleviating the suffering of civilians, and providing a path towards lasting peace in the region.
What the papers say
The Times of Israel reports on Blinken's message to Qatar to pressure Hamas for a deal, while The Independent highlights the progress in negotiations and The New York Times covers Blinken's tour of the Middle East to secure a ceasefire.
How we got here
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza has led to significant casualties and humanitarian concerns, prompting international efforts to broker a ceasefire and secure the release of hostages held by Hamas.
Common question
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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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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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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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The United States of America, commonly known as the United States or America, is a country mostly located in central North America, between Canada and Mexico.
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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
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The United States Department of State, commonly referred to as the State Department, is a federal executive department responsible for carrying out U.S. foreign policy and international relations.
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