US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said Israel's leader supports a new ceasefire proposal, and urged the Islamic group Hamas to immediately accept it.

Blinken met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Monday. They discussed a bridging proposal for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and hostage release. Details of the deal have not been disclosed.

After the meeting, Blinken told reporters that Netanyahu expressed his support for the proposal. He also said the prime minister conveyed his intention to send a delegation to the next round of talks that are expected to take place by this weekend.

The top US diplomat said, "The next important step is for Hamas to say yes."

Blinken noted there are still "complex issues" that will require "hard decisions by the leaders." But he said there is a "real sense of urgency" for the entire region to reach an agreement as soon as possible.

He went on to say that the US will never give up, but the longer negotiations go on, the more hostages will suffer and "possibly perish."

Blinken is scheduled to visit mediators Qatar and Egypt on Tuesday to exchange opinions on the latest situation and put further pressure on Hamas.