US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to Israel at the end of the week as differences between Washington and Benjamin Netanyahu's government over the Gaza war intensify.
Israel has worked its way through the north and central parts of the Gaza Strip, hunting down Islamist terrorists from Hamas but killing what Hamas-controlled health officials say are more than 31,000 civilians.
Netanyahu had said his army will also now go into Rafah near the border with Egypt, where Israel believes there are terrorists responsible for the October 7 massacre which killed around 1,200 people inside the Jewish state and took some 240 hostages.
However, the US thinks this will result in massive bloodshed amid reports over 1 million people are there after fleeing from Israel's assault on other areas of the strip.
"He's going to discuss with the government of Israel and its leadership the ongoing negotiations to secure the release of hostages," a State Department official said on Wednesday about Blinken's visit on Friday.
"He's going to discuss the need to defeat Hamas, including in Rafah in a way that we believe will hopefully protect civilian populations and does not hinder the delivery of humanitarian assistance, and advances Israel's overall security."
Blinken was in the Saudi Arabian port city of Jeddah for talks on Wednesday, after which he planned to travel on to the Egyptian capital Cairo.
During the visit, Blinken told a Saudi television station he believed an agreement in the negotiations on a ceasefire in the Gaza war and the release of further hostages was possible.
"It's getting closer. I think the gaps are narrowing, and I think an agreement is very much possible," Blinken said in the interview.
The US, Qatar and Egypt have been mediating between Hamas and Israel for weeks. The aim is a ceasefire and the exchange of hostages. Blinken emphasized that an agreement would depend on the consent of Hamas.
"A very strong proposal was put on the table," Blinken said, "and we have to see if Hamas can say yes to the proposal."
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant is expected in Washington next week and a separate Israeli delegation is to travel to the US capital to talk to US officials about their concerns regarding the planned ground offensive in Rafah.
Washington's aim, according to US media reports, is to explain the US government's reservations in detail and discuss possible alternatives.
