Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said that he made clear to Israeli leaders US opposition to a major attack on the Gaza city of Rafah and said he suggested “better ways” to address Hamas, AFP reports.

“There are other ways — and in our judgement, better ways — of dealing with the real ongoing challenge of Hamas that does not require a major military operation” in Rafah, Blinken told reporters after talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders.