John Kerry Says Progress In Gaza Cease-Fire Talks

JERUSALEM (AP) — Secretary of State John Kerry says negotiations toward a cease-fire agreement in the Gaza Strip are making some progress after days of a deadly impasse between Israel and Hamas militants.

Kerry was not specific today in describing what he called steps forward in the negotiations as he met for a second time this week with United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon.

Both Kerry and Ban are in the Mideast trying to broker a new truce between Israel and Hamas, which controls Gaza.

More than 630 Palestinians and about 30 Israelis have been killed in most recent round of violence that began July 8.