Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken was in Israel on Wednesday, the last stop on a Middle East tour, as President Biden seeks to stop an Israeli invasion of Rafah, a city in southern Gaza where Palestinians have taken refuge during the war. He met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. .

Blinken and other Biden administration aides also urged Hamas to reach a deal to release some hostages taken in the Oct. 7 attack in exchange for a six-week ceasefire and the release of some Palestinian prisoners. I’m asking you to agree. U.S. officials said they hope the temporary ceasefire will lead to a permanent ceasefire.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was planning a major attack on Rafah, with or without a deal.

Ceasefire talks have been stalled for months, and Israeli officials announced Monday they had agreed to lower their demands. They are now calling on Hamas to release 33 instead of 40 civilians, including women, the elderly, and people in need of emergency medical care. Hamas released more than 100 hostages during a seven-day ceasefire in November.

Mr. Blinken discussed the agreement in a nearly three-hour meeting with Mr. Netanyahu, according to a State Department summary. He also spoke about efforts to increase humanitarian assistance in Gaza and the U.S. government’s “clear position” on Rafah, the brief added.

Blinken also met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog on the third stop of his trip early Wednesday morning at a Tel Aviv hotel where supporters of the hostages had gathered outside.

“Proposals are being considered, and as we have said, there will be no delays or excuses,” Blinken told the president and reporters before the talks began. He then met with the families of several American hostages held in Gaza, before heading in a motorcade to Jerusalem, where he held a private meeting with Netanyahu.

Yair Lapid, the opposition leader in Israel’s parliament, also met with Blinken. Lapid later said on social media that Netanyahu had “no political excuse” for not declaring a cease-fire and agreeing to release the hostages, adding: “Every minute counts.”

Blinken and other U.S. officials have said there is little room for Hamas to comply with the deal as Prime Minister Netanyahu presses for an attack on Rafah, and the Biden administration faces the possibility of devastating civilian casualties. I’m warning you that there is. U.S. officials have said they want Israel to carry out targeted operations against Hamas leaders and fighters in Rafah, and Israeli officials say Hamas still has four battalions. Says.

U.S. officials are increasingly concerned about the war’s toll on Palestinian civilians. According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, more than 34,000 people have died so far.

Asked about Netanyahu’s comments on Rafah, Blinken said U.S. efforts were focused on securing the hostages and reaching a cease-fire agreement.

Humanitarian aid to Gaza is also a priority for Blinken in the Middle East. After meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Mr. Blinken began a long drive to southern Israel, where he was scheduled to visit the port of Ashdod, where aid is being shipped to Gaza.