Blinken urges Netanyahu not to attack Rafah as cease-fire resolution fails at the U.N.

Blinken urges Netanyahu not to attack Rafah as cease-fire resolution fails at the U.N. Enlarge this image toggle caption Evelyn Hockstein/AP Evelyn Hockstein/AP TEL AVIV, Israel — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Friday not to launch an assault on Rafah, in the last leg of his whistle-stop regional tour to push for a cease-fire in Gaza. This latest stop was Blinken's sixth time in the region since the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel that it said killed some 1,200 people and triggered the Israeli military campaign in the Gaza Strip. Sponsor Message It came as Netanyahu mulls further military operations in Rafah, and as cease-fire and hostage release talks between Israeli and Hamas authorities continue in Doha, Qatar. It risks further isolating Israel around the world and jeopardizing its long term security and standing," Blinken said after his meeting with the Israeli leader and his war cabinet.