The USA still has hope that Israel and Hamas will participate in the negotiations on a ceasefire planned to be held this week.
Last week, the USA's President Joe Biden and the leaders of Egypt and Qatar made an unusual joint appeal to Israel and Hamas to participate in negotiations starting on Thursday.
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has already confirmed that Israel will participate.
And our Qatari partners have assured us that they are working to ensure that Hamas will also be represented, said the spokesperson for the US Department of State, Vedant Patel, at a press conference.
Patel also said that a ceasefire would enable the release of hostages and new diplomacy to "put an end to the endless spiral of violence in the region".
Vedant Patel declined to comment on Israel's negotiating position but said that Israeli representatives had told the USA that "they will be ready to finalize the details and implement the agreement".
Later on Tuesday, the USA's President Joe Biden said that a ceasefire in Gaza could mean that Iran would refrain from attacking Israel in revenge for the murder of Hamas leader Ismail Haniya in Tehran.
That's what I expect, said Biden, adding that even if the negotiations get tough, he doesn't intend to give up.
