u.s. secretary of state "gaza hostage and ceasefire negotiations resume within days"

U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken, who is on a Middle East tour, said he would visit Qatar to resume negotiations on a cease-fire to free Gaza hostages in the coming days.

"We discussed the next steps to make the most of this moment and develop the negotiation process," Blinken told a joint press conference after meeting with Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Muhammad bin Abdulrahman Altani on the 23rd local time, AFP reported.

"It's time to end the war, send all hostages home, and create a better future for the people of Gaza," Blinken said.

"We will allow Israeli forces to withdraw, Hamas to not be rebuilt, and Palestinians to rebuild their daily lives and futures," he added.

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Muhammad said: "There have been several meetings in the past few days with representatives of the Hamas political bureau in Doha."

Israel's prime minister's office says Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has instructed overseas intelligence agency Mossad to travel to Doha, Qatar, to negotiate the release of hostages, according to the Times of Israel and other sources.

Mossad's director, David Barnia, will meet with U.S. Central Intelligence Agency Director William Burns and Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Muhammad in Doha.