The US State Department said that Secretary of State Anthony Blinken discussed with the Israeli Defense Minister the situation in Gaza and the ongoing efforts to release the hostages, noting that Blinken urged the Israeli Defense Minister to ensure the arrival of humanitarian aid to Gaza, US media reported.
Blinken stressed the urgent need to protect civilians and relief workers in Gaza, expressing his opposition to any major ground military operation in Rafah.
Associated Press quoted a senior Egyptian official as saying that Egypt had submitted a protest to Tel Aviv, Washington and European governments regarding the attack on Rafah, stressing that all reports on from Israeli media regarding coordination with Egypt at the Rafah crossing are baseless.