HomeOffice of the SpokespersonPress Releases…Secretary Blinken’s Meeting with Israeli Defense Minister Gallant hide Secretary Blinken’s Meeting with Israeli Defense Minister Gallant Readout Office of the Spokesperson March 25, 2024 The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller: Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met with the Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in Washington. The Secretary reiterated the United States’ support for ensuring the defeat of Hamas, including in Rafah, while reiterating opposition to a major ground operation in Rafah that would further jeopardize the welfare of the more than 1.4 million Palestinian civilians sheltering there. The Secretary underscored that alternatives exist to a major ground invasion that would both better ensure Israel’s security and protect Palestinian civilians. Secretary Blinken also discussed the need to immediately surge and sustain additional humanitarian assistance to meet the needs of civilians in Gaza. Tags Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration Humanitarian Aid Israel Office of the Spokesperson Palestinian Territories Refugee and Humanitarian Assistance The Secretary of State