VIENNA, March  15, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - US Secretary of State Antony Blinken
said Friday that Washington was working "intensively" with its partners "to
bridge the remaining gaps" for a deal to free hostages held by Hamas and secure
a ceasefire in Gaza.

             "Yes, there has been a counter-proposal put forward by Hamas. I obviously
can't get into the details of what that involves, but what I can tell you is
we're working intensively with Israel, with Qatar, with Egypt, to bridge the
remaining gaps and to try to reach an agreement," Blinken said during a visit
to Vienna.

             Hamas has proposed a new six-week truce in Gaza and an exchange of several
dozen Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, an official from the militant
group told AFP on Friday.

             Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said Israel would send a
delegation to Doha for another round of talks on securing the release of
hostages in Gaza.

             "I think it reflects the sense both of possibility and of urgency to get an
agreement, to get a ceasefire, to get the hostages back, to get even more
humanitarian assistance in," Blinken said about Israel's move.

             When asked about a possible Israel military offensive on Rafah, Blinken
said the US had not seen such plans, reiterating that Washington wants a "clear
and implementable plan" to ensure civilians are "out of harm's way".

             During the October 7 attack by Hamas, militants seized about 250 Israeli
and foreign hostages, dozens of whom were released during a week-long truce in
November. Israel believes about 130 captives remain in Gaza including 32
presumed dead.

             The assault killed about 1,160 people in Israel, mostly civilians,
according to an AFP tally of official figures.

             Israel's retaliatory campaign to destroy Hamas has killed at least 31,490
people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the health ministry in
the Hamas-run territory.

             Israel has so far refused to withdraw from Gaza, saying such a move would
amount to victory for Hamas.

             Netanyahu's office said late Thursday that Hamas "is continuing to hold
unrealistic demands" but that an update on truce talks would be submitted to
Israel's war cabinet on Friday.