US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said a long-sought ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas was within sight, saying negotiators were "driving toward the goal line".
The United States has been working with Qatar and Egypt to try to arrange a ceasefire in the Gaza conflict in order to free hostages held since 7 October and get more humanitarian aid into the enclave.
Mr Blinken told the Aspen Security Forum in Colorado that Hamas and Israel had agreed to the ceasefire framework outlined by US President Joe Biden in May after a lot of pushing and diplomacy, but said that some issues needed to be resolved.
"I believe we're inside the 10-yard line and driving toward the goal line in getting an agreement that would produce a ceasefire, get the hostages home and put us on a better track to trying to build lasting peace and stability," Mr Blinken said.
"There remains some issues that need to be resolved, that need to be negotiated," he said.
"We're in the midst of doing exactly that," he added.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to travel to Washington next week and address a joint session of the US Congress on 24 July 24.
Mr Biden expects to meet him, depending on the president's recovery from Covid-19, the White House said.
Mr Blinken, asked about Mr Netanyahu's visit, said Washington wants to bring the ceasefire agreement over the finish line.
He added that it was critical there was a clear plan for what follows and that discussions with Mr Netanyahu would likely centre around that.
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Israel vowed to eradicate Hamas after the group's militants killed 1,200 people and took more than 250 hostage in 7 October attack, according to Israeli tallies.
At least 38,848 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's offensive since then, Gaza health authorities say.
UK to resume UNRWA funding
Meanwhile Britain's new Labour government said it would resume funding to the UN Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA and called on Israel to allow more aid to enter Gaza.
Britain was one of several countries to halt their funding to the UN Relief and Works Agency following accusations by Israel that some agency staff were involved in the 7 October Hamas attack on Israel that triggered the Gaza war.
British Foreign Secretary David Lammy told parliament he was reassured that the agency, which provides education, health and aid to millions of Palestinians, had taken steps to "ensure it meets the highest standards of neutrality" and the government would now provide £21 million (€24.895 million) in new funding.
Mr Lammy said malnutrition in Gaza was now so severe that mothers could not produce breast milk for their children and the rates of diarrhoea were 40 times their normal rates and polio had been detected.
"Humanitarian aid is a moral necessity in the face of such a catastrophe, and it is aid agencies who ensure UK support reaches civilians on the ground," he said.
"UNRWA is absolutely central to these efforts. No other agency can deliver aid at the scale needed."
Other countries including Japan, Germany, Italy, Australia and Canada have resumed funding to the agency.
Israel accuses UNRWA of complicity with Hamas, saying the militant Islamist group was embedded within the UN agency's infrastructure.
A review, led by former French foreign minister Catherine Colonna, published in April said Israel had not provided evidence for its accusations that hundreds of UNRWA staff are members of militant groups.
In February, Britain's then-foreign secretary David Cameron said he wanted an "absolute guarantee" that UNRWA would not employ staff who were willing to attack Israel.
Mr Cameron was replaced by Mr Lammy as foreign secretary following the Labour Party's 4 July election win.
