US Secretary of State Blinken meets Israel defense minister in Washington

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with the Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in Washington on Monday.

During the meeting, Blinken discussed indirect diplomacy between Israel and Hamas on an agreement that "secures the release of all hostages and alleviates the suffering of the Palestinian people," State Department spokesman Miller said.

Blinken also discussed the need to immediately surge and sustain additional humanitarian assistance to meet the needs of civilians in Gaza. Gallant also met CIA chief Bill Burns, the key US point man in negotiations to free hostages from Hamas.