Washington’s top diplomat said global efforts to end 16 days of bloodshed in Gaza were progressing Wednesday.

Washington's top diplomat said global efforts to end 16 days of bloodshed in Gaza were progressing Wednesday.
 
As US Secretary of State John Kerry and UN chief Ban Ki-moon held talks in Jerusalem, they said they had pooled their efforts in the hope of boosting the quest for a truce.

"We have certainly made some steps forward, but there is still work to be done," Kerry said as he met the UN chief for the second time this week.

"We are now joining our forces in strength to make a ceasefire as soon as possible," Ban said, warning there was no time to lose as concern mounted over the rising civilian body count.

The US diplomat offered a similar message to the Palestinians as he met president Mahmud Abbas in the West Bank city of Ramallah

"We have in the last 24 hours made some progress in moving toward that goal," he said before heading to Tel Aviv for talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Britain was also poised to add its weight to truce efforts as new Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond flew in for late-night talks with Abbas, the president's office said.