Secretary of State Antony Blinken emerged from meetings with top Israeli officials in Tel Aviv on Friday, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, cautioning that “hard issues” remain in efforts to lock down a new cease-fire and hostage release deal. 

What You Need To Know

  • Secretary of State Antony Blinken emerged from meetings with top Israeli officials, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in Tel Aviv on Friday cautioning that “hard issues” remain in efforts to lock down a new ceasefire and hostage release deal 
  • The secretary’s comment comes as U.S., Qatari, Egyptian and Israeli officials, including CIA director Bill Burns, appear set to hold talks in Doha on Friday on a potential temporary ceasefire deal that would facilitate the release of hostages still being held by Hamas
  • The secretary’s meeting with Netanyahu also came as tensions appear to mount between the U.S. and Israel over a potential invasion of the southern Gaza city of Rafah
  • A statement from Netanyahu’s office following the pair’s Friday meeting indicated the Israeli leader is intent on carrying out his plans in Rafah whether or not the U.S. gets behind the effort

“We have gotten it down to a few remaining gaps but the closer you get to the goal line, the harder that last yard is,” Blinken told reporters following his meetings in Tel Aviv. “So, there are some hard issues to work through but we are determined to do everything we can to get there.”

The secretary’s comment comes as U.S., Qatari, Egyptian and Israeli officials appear set to hold talks in Doha on Friday on a potential temporary ceasefire deal that would facilitate the release of hostages still being held by Hamas. A press release from Netanyahu’s office noted an Israeli delegation would be meeting with CIA director Bill Burns as well as Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abd Al Thani and Egyptian Intelligence Minister Abbas Kamel. 

On his sixth trip to the Middle East since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel that ignited the war, Blinken’s visit to Tel Aviv on Friday followed stops in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday and Egypt on Thursday. 

Speaking at a press conference in Saudi Arabia, the secretary sparked optimism when he said that “gaps are narrowing” in ceasefire and hostage release talks. 

The U.S. on Friday sponsored U.N. resolution calling for “an immediate and sustained cease-fire” in the war as part of a hostage deal. It was vetoed by Russia and China. 

The secretary’s meeting with Netanyahu also came as tensions appear to mount between the U.S. and Israel over a potential invasion of the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where more than a million civilians are seeking refuge amid the war. 

Israeli has insisted such an invasion is the necessary next step in its campaign to eliminate Hamas following the group's Oct. 7 attack on Israel that killed around 1,200 people. President Joe Biden and the White House have made clear they don’t support a full ground operation without a plan to protect civilians in the city. 

Blinken on Friday reiterated that point, telling reporters a “major military ground operation” is “not the way to do it.” 

A statement from Netanyahu’s office following the pair’s Friday meeting indicated the Israeli leader is intent on carrying out his plans in Rafah whether or not the U.S. gets behind it. 

“I also said that we have no way to defeat Hamas without entering Rafah and eliminating the remnant of the battalions there,” the statement reads in part. “I told him that I hope we would do this with US support but if necessary – we will do it alone."

Earlier this week, the National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan announced that Netanyahu, on a call with Biden on Monday, agreed to send a delegation to the U.S. for talks on Rafah at the president’s request. 

Sullivan said during the talks – expected to take place next week – the U.S. will present Israel with an “alternative approach that would target key Hamas elements in Rafah and secure the Egypt-Gaza border without a major ground invasion.”