He spoke to the journalists US Secretary of State Anthony Blinkenafter the meeting he had earlier today with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Referring to Benjamin Netanyahu’s plans to go ahead with a ground military operation in Rafah despite US warnings, Blinken said “the US shares Israel’s goals to defeat Hamas and ensure Israel’s long-term security”. However, he continued: “a large military ground operation in Rafah is not the way to do it. It risks killing more civilians. It risks wreaking havoc with humanitarian aid. It risks further isolating Israel around the world and jeopardizing its long-term security and standing.”

Blinken also said he had the opportunity to meet with the families of the hostages during his visit to Israel and added that it was “hard to describe what they go through every day.”

Regarding the progress of the negotiations the US Secretary of State stated that progress has been made in the last two weeks for the release of the remaining hostages, but added that “there is still a lot of work to be done”. “We are determined to try to do it” he emphasized.

He added that the US is “heavily involved” in talks with Qatar and Egypt. “We’ve narrowed it down to a few remaining gaps,” Blinken said.

“But the closer we get to the finish line, the harder it is towards the end. So there are some difficult issues to resolve.”

Anthony Blinken also said he discussed with Netanyahu the “imperative need to increase and maintain” the humanitarian situation in Gaza. “100% of the population of Gaza is acutely food insecure, 100%,” he stressed, adding that “some positive steps” have been taken in recent days “but it is not enough.”

Finally, he said he looked forward to visiting Israeli officials in Washington for talks next week “to talk about a different way of achieving these goals.”

“It requires a comprehensive humanitarian, military and political plan,” he concluded.