And let's head back now to Washington where William Bringham has a look at the day's other news.

William.

Thanks so much, Amna.

Secretary of State Anthony Blinkin visited Israel today and said this week's talks about a ceasefire in

Gaza and a hostage release were quote the best maybe the last opportunity to

release those hostages and at least pause this war.

Nick Schifrin is here and he has been following this all along.

Nick, what is the state of these current talks?

Blinken said today that Israel had accepted language designed to bridge the gaps between Israel and Hamas.

This is Blinken speaking today earlier to reporters in Tel Aviv.

The critical next step is for Hamas to accept the bridging proposal that Israel or Prime Minister Nett and Yahoo is now accepted,

and then to engage with everyone else on making sure that we have clear understandings of how each party would actually

implement the commitments that it's undertaken in this agreement.

So what does that mean? Recall that there is an overall agreement on the framework for

the first phase, a six week ceasefire,

the release of more than 30 hostages from Hamas and 700 Palestinian detainees from

Israel, and the humanitarian aid surge in Gaza with a phased Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.

But William, regional officials tell me that the two sides remain far apart, especially

over changes that Israel has demanded in the last six weeks that this bridging proposal language that is

this bridging proposal language is designed to overcome.

That includes number one, this.

Israel insists on control of Rafa and the Philadelphia corridor,

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