US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken called on Hamas today to accept an “immediate ceasefire” with Israel while negotiations are underway in Cairo between the Islamist movement and international mediators, including Qatar.

“We have an opportunity (to achieve) an immediate ceasefire, which could bring hostages back to their homes, allow a significant increase in humanitarian aid for the Palestinians, which they desperately need, and which could then create conditions of a permanent solution” to the conflict, the head of American diplomacy said in the framework of his meeting with the prime minister of Qatar in Washington.

“It is up to Hamas to decide whether it is ready to support this ceasefire,” he added.

From his side, the Prime Minister of Qatar Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, whose country is playing a key role in the negotiations, promised to show “persistence in order to ensure that this agreement is concluded”. “Despite the efforts of those who try to wait for peace, we want peace, we want the end of human suffering, we want the hostages to return to their families,” he added.

Anthony Blinken also called on Israel to allow more humanitarian aid to arrive in besieged Gazawhere the UN estimates that famine is “almost inevitable” and where Washington has resorted to airstrikes.

“Israel must maximize every possible means, every possible method, in order for aid to reach those who need it,” he stressed, asking that country to open more border crossings to the Palestinian enclave.

“More passes are needed. More help needs to come in. And once the aid comes in, we need to make sure it gets to the people who need it. So we will continue to push for it every day because the situation as it is is simply unacceptable,” Anthony Blinken stressed.