U.S. Secretary of State Blinken met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel on the 22nd and asked him to consider an alternative plan to a large-scale ground operation in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. However, Prime Minister Netanyahu has maintained his bullish stance, and the focus is on whether he can avoid ground operations that are feared to involve many civilians.
On the 22nd, U.S. Secretary of State Blinken met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and members of his wartime cabinet in Israel.
After the meeting, Secretary of State Blinken told reporters about negotiations to halt fighting between Israel and the Islamic group Hamas, saying, ``We have made progress in recent weeks and the gap between the two sides is narrowing, but the final "The items tend to be the most difficult," he said, acknowledging that issues remain.
The meeting also discussed a large-scale ground operation in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, with Secretary Blinken saying, ``A ground operation would result in even more civilian casualties, disrupt humanitarian assistance, and threaten Israel's international "There is a risk of further isolation from society," he said, again calling on the Israeli side to consider alternative plans.
But Prime Minister Netanyahu said in a video statement after the meeting: "I told Secretary Blinken that I hope we can defeat Hamas in Rafah with American support, but that if necessary we will do it on our own." , we remain bullish.
A team of senior Israeli officials will be sent to the US capital Washington next week to continue talks, with a focus on whether a large-scale ground operation in Rafah can be avoided.