US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken met with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant and warned him about the risks of an offensive in Rafah, reiterating that the US opposes such an operation, AFP reported, quoted by BTA.< /strong>
Blinken has "reaffirmed US support for ensuring the defeat of Hamas, including in Rafah, but has again opposed a major ground operation in Rafah," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement.
The US secretary of state has "emphasized the existence of alternatives to a full-scale ground invasion that would better ensure Israel's security and protect Palestinian civilians," the spokesman added.
The meeting between Blinken and Gallant took place today in Washington, after Israel canceled a visit of a delegation of high-ranking representatives to the American capital yesterday.
The decision to cancel this visit was made in response to the US abstention during yesterday's UN Security Council vote on a resolution calling for an "immediate ceasefire" in Gaza - a wording that the US has so far vetoed, according to AFP.
At the same time, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said he had a "constructive discussion" with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant, reported Reuters, quoted by BTA.
"I welcomed Yoav's commitment to take further steps to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza," Sullivan wrote in a post on the X social network.
Meanwhile, the Palestinian Islamist movement "Hamas" accused the Israeli government of being "all responsible" about the failure of the previous negotiations for a cease-fire in Gaza, accompanied by the release of hostages and prisoners, reported France Press, quoted by BTA.
"The movement recently informed the mediator brothers (Qatar and Egypt) that it adheres to its position and vision presented on March 14. But the (Israeli) occupation refused to respond to the basic demands of our people and our resistance," Hamas said in a statement.
"As a result, the movement once again states that (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu and his extremist government bear full responsibility for the failure of negotiation efforts and for having so far prevented the conclusion of an agreement,"Hamas added. , without announcing that he was ending the negotiations.
Hamas, which until now had been pushing for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza before exchanging Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, changed its position on March 14, saying it now supports a six-week truce that would include the return of displaced Palestinians their homes and "real" exchange of prisoners, Reuters points out.
The mediating countries - the US, Qatar and Egypt - have been negotiating a ceasefire for weeks after five and a half months of devastating war, notes AFP.
"Hamas" welcomed yesterday the UN Security Council resolution calling for an "immediate ceasefire" in Gaza, and expressed "readiness" to start "immediately" process of exchanging hostages for prisoners.
Immediately after the resolution was passed, Israel canceled a visit by an Israeli delegation to Washington that had been scheduled to take place this week, saying the US abstention from the UN vote "undermines" both his war effort and his effort to free the hostages.
It emerged yesterday that a veteran Israeli minister who joined Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government after the attack by "Hamas" on October 7, resigned because he was not included in the military cabinet, reported Reuters, quoted by BTA.
Gideon Saar joined the unity government along with several other members of the opposition to help manage the war against "Hamas" in Gaza.
Saar's departure, along with another of his allies, is not expected to affect the stability of Netanyahu's government, which still controls a clear majority in parliament.
Saar was once Netanyahu's rival in the right-wing Likud before joining the more centrist bloc led by former defense minister Benny Gantz. Gantz became a member of the smaller wartime cabinet, while Saar was left out.
"I cannot be held responsible if I do not have, in my judgment, a real opportunity to influence the direction of policy. "I just don't see any benefit to it," Saar said.
His resignation was not a surprise, as ten days ago Saar ended his partnership with Gantz and created a separate center-right bloc in parliament.