US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has arrived in the Middle East on his latest diplomatic mission, focusing on Washington’s Gaza ceasefire proposal and the future of the Palestinian territory post-conflict.

Blinken met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in Cairo on Monday, renewing American calls for Hamas to accept a truce plan presented by President Joe Biden in late May.

Speaking to reporters before leaving Egypt, Blinken placed the blame on Hamas for prolonging the conflict, calling the group an “outlier” for not agreeing to the US deal.

“My message to governments and people throughout the region is, if you want a ceasefire, press Hamas to say yes,” he stated.

Blinken later arrived in Israel and met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He will continue his talks in Qatar and Jordan this week.

The State Department confirmed that Blinken reiterated the “ironclad” US commitment to Israel’s security during his discussion with Netanyahu.

“The Secretary emphasized that the United States and other world leaders will support President Biden’s comprehensive proposal, which aims for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, release of all hostages, and a significant increase in humanitarian aid throughout Gaza,” according to the State Department.

While Blinken presented the truce plan as Biden’s initiative, Biden had earlier labeled it an Israeli plan. The proposal includes a six-week halt in fighting and the release of some Israeli captives in Gaza and Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, leading to negotiations for a lasting ceasefire.

Despite the US assertions that Israel agreed to the proposal, various Israeli officials, including Netanyahu, have vowed to continue fighting until Hamas is eliminated. Days before Biden’s announcement, a top Israeli official indicated that military operations in Gaza would continue until at least the end of the year.

Hamas has insisted that any deal must result in a permanent ceasefire and the full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza. On Monday, Hamas reiterated this stance after its political chief Ismail Haniyeh met with officials from Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Doha.

“The two delegations discussed indirect negotiations to end the war, emphasizing that any agreement must include a permanent ceasefire, complete withdrawal from Gaza, reconstruction, lifting the siege, and an effective prisoners’ exchange,” Hamas stated.

The Biden administration has repeatedly blamed Hamas as the “only” obstacle to ending the Gaza conflict, despite unclear Israeli positions.

On Monday, Blinken refrained from speculating on Hamas’s acceptance of the plan, thanking Egypt for its role and stating that Egyptian officials were in contact with Hamas “as recently as a few hours ago.”

The US truce proposal does not address Gaza's future governance, but Washington maintains that it does not accept Hamas ruling the territory. Instead, the Biden administration envisions a “reformed” Palestinian Authority eventually governing Gaza. However, the Israeli government has ruled out allowing the PA to govern Gaza, with Netanyahu equating Fatah with Hamas.

Despite providing Israel with substantial military aid, the Biden administration has criticized Israel for lacking a long-term plan for Gaza’s post-war future.

“It’s crucial to have plans for post-conflict security, governance, and reconstruction in Gaza,” Blinken said on Monday. “This will be a significant part of my discussions in the region.”

Blinken responded to an NBC News report about US discussions of a unilateral ceasefire deal to release US citizens held captive in Gaza, saying that a broader agreement is the best way to secure the release of all captives.

The Egyptian presidency noted that el-Sisi and Blinken discussed efforts to achieve a Gaza ceasefire and agreed to intensify efforts to reach an agreement.

At least 37,124 people have been killed and 84,712 injured in Israel’s war on Gaza since October, according to Palestinian health officials. Severe restrictions on food, water, medical supplies, and fuel have put Gaza on the brink of famine, per UN and aid agencies.

Israel launched the war after Hamas attacked southern Israel on October 7, resulting in at least 1,139 Israeli deaths and approximately 250 hostages taken. Around half of the captives were released in a weeklong truce deal in November, with about 120 captives, including 43 declared dead by Israel, remaining in Gaza.