Gaza, Poskini.com - Ceasefire talks in Gaza continue in the Egyptian capital.
However, Hamas representatives did not participate in the talksTalks on ceasefire in Gaza are 'constructive' and will continue through the weekend.
National security spokesman John Kirby said some progress had been made in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, and denied reports that talks were close to breaking down.
There is speculation that there is a major dispute between Hamas and Israel regarding Israel's insistence on deploying troops in the two main corridors.
Mr Kirby said all parties needed to come together to implement the proposed agreement.
"Negotiations must involve Hamas representatives," he said.
So far, negotiations have involved negotiators from Israel, the United States, Egypt and Qatar, but not Hamas.
CIA Director William Burns and President Joe Biden's senior advisor for the Middle East, Brett McGuirk, led the US talks.
Kirby said the United States would continue to monitor Iran, which supports Hamas, and would not take anything for granted.
"The United States believes that Iran is still willing to do something if it chooses to do so," he added, as reported by Sky News.
This month, there were assessments that Iran and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah were ready to attack Israel to avenge the killing of their two leaders.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken asked Hamas to agree to a ceasefire agreement earlier this week.
This happened after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed to a proposal that included a ceasefire and the return of the Israeli host.
Last week, a Hamas spokesperson told Sky News that President Biden's optimism regarding the ceasefire agreement was an attempt to "give a positive outlook to the media.
"We are in Cairo. They are also in Cairo. We need Hamas involvement and we need action to stop this breakdown," said Kirby.
"And that's what we're focused on here over the next few days and this weekend," he concluded.
