Blinken said on Friday that Israel has not presented any plan to protect civilians. Without it, “we cannot support a major military operation in Rafah because the damage it would cause is beyond acceptable limits,” Blinken said.
Netanyahu vowed Thursday to “do whatever is necessary to conquer and overcome our enemy, including Rafah.”
At the beginning of the war, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant said his country would impose a “complete siege”, blocking food, water and other supplies.
Persistent appeals from aid groups, the United Nations and world leaders for greater access have led to some improvements.
Israel said the Erez crossing into northern Gaza had reopened for aid entry, and aid was arriving through the Israeli port of Ashdod.
On Friday, UN humanitarian agency OCHA said recent developments had seen “incremental progress in access to food, water and sanitation facilities.”
But Cindy McCain, executive director of the World Food Programme, said in an interview excerpt published Friday: “There is famine in the north, complete famine and it is moving to the south.”
He appealed for a ceasefire and unhindered, secure access to the area.
Deaths in the West Bank.
