antony blinken
The Secretary of State said mediators would keep trying to close an elusive U.S.-backed deal that can bring an end to Israel's military offensive in Gaza.
The dramatic rescue operation of four Israeli hostages resulted in the deaths of a large number of Palestinian civilians and may complicate the cease-fire push.
“We know this is a challenging time,” the U.S. Secretary of State said.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken has delivered some of the Biden administration’s strongest public criticism yet of Israel’s conduct of the war in Gaza.
WHAT'S HAPPENING
The secretary of state's comments come after President Joe Biden demanded Israel allow a larger, sustained flow of humanitarian assistance for Palestinians.
The reported findings would legally require the White House to suspend military assistance to Israel, whose offensive in Gaza nears seven months.
A special State Department panel told Blinken that the U.S. should restrict arms sales to Israeli military units that have been credibly accused of human rights abuses. He has not taken any action.
Blinken heads to Israel on Friday to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his War Cabinet.
Both sides remain dug in on thus far elusive goals as the war enters its fifth month.
Their refusal comes a week after Arab and Muslim voters declined a meeting with senior officials in Michigan.