Secretary of State Antony Blinken is intensifying efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza, marking his ninth visit to the region since the outbreak of hostilities. During meetings in Egypt and Qatar, Blinken emphasized the urgency of finalizing a deal, stating that the U.S. will strive to align Hamas with the proposed terms. His discussions follow Israel's acceptance of a bridging proposal aimed at resolving ongoing negotiations, although significant hurdles remain.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed a desire for lasting control over two strategic corridors in Gaza, a condition that Hamas has rejected. Blinken clarified that this demand is not part of the bridging proposal agreed upon by Israel. The plan includes a detailed schedule for troop withdrawals, which Blinken argues is in the best interest of all parties involved.

In related developments, tensions continue to escalate as Iran warns of potential retaliation against Israel for the recent killing of a Hamas leader in Tehran, which Iran attributes to Israeli actions. Meanwhile, the Israeli military reported recovering the bodies of six hostages during a raid in Gaza, with families of the hostages claiming they were alive when kidnapped during the October 7 attacks. Additionally, Gaza health authorities reported at least ten fatalities from an Israeli airstrike on a school sheltering civilians, which Israel claims targeted Hamas militants.

In other global news, military operations in Ukraine are advancing, with Russian forces making gains in the eastern city of Pokrovsk, while Ukraine reports significant territorial control in Russia's Kursk region. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited a military hospital, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by troops in the conflict.

Back in the U.S., an independent commission in Maine has revealed that local law enforcement and army reserves failed to act on several opportunities that could have prevented a mass shooting in Lewiston last fall, which resulted in 18 deaths. The commission's report criticized the local sheriff's office for not taking action under the state's yellow flag law and noted deficiencies in mental health care provided to the shooter, Robert Card. Following the incident, the army disciplined three leaders for their failure to address the situation adequately.