Blinken tells Israel ‘better ways’ to deal with Hamas than Rafah assault

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks to the media at the port of Ashdod, May 1, 2024. (Evelyn Hockstein/Pool Photo via AP)
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks to the media at the port of Ashdod, May 1, 2024. (Evelyn Hockstein/Pool Photo via AP)

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says that he made clear to Israeli leaders US opposition to a major attack on the Gaza city of Rafah and said he suggested “better ways” to address Hamas.

“Our position is clear. It hasn’t changed, it won’t change,” Blinken tells reporters.

“We cannot and will not support a major military operation in Rafah absent an effective plan to make sure that civilians are not harmed, and we’ve not seen such a plan.”

“At the same time, there are other ways — and in our judgement, better ways — of dealing with the real ongoing challenge of Hamas that does not require a major military operation” in Rafah, Blinken says.

“We’ve been talking to the Israelis about that and we’ll continue those conversations,” he said of Rafah.

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