US SECRETARY of State Antony Blinken met Israeli leaders today in his push for a ceasefire in Gaza, though he claimed that if ongoing truce talks fail, the fault would lie with Hamas.

“We are determined to get a ceasefire that brings the hostages home, and to get it now, and the only reason that that wouldn’t be achieved is because of Hamas,” Mr Blinken told Israeli President Isaac Herzog at a meeting in Tel Aviv, saying: “The time is now.”

During talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Mr Blinken spoke of an “improvement” in the delivery of aid to Gaza over the past month and called on the Israeli leader to build on it, according to State Department spokesman Matthew Miller.

The deal currently being discussed — brokered by the US, Egypt and Qatar — would see Hamas release dozens of hostages in exchange for a six-week halt in fighting, according to an Egyptian official and Israeli media. Hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel would also be freed.

As to what happens next, Hamas has demanded that the release of all hostages will bring a complete end to Israel’s military offensive in Gaza, but Israel has offered only an extended pause.

In the besieged coastal territory, an Israeli air strike hit a house in Rafah, killing at least two children.