Secretary of State Antony Blinken is scheduled to travel to Saudi Arabia next week to discuss ongoing efforts of a negotiated cease-fire in Gaza that secures the release of the remaining hostages.

Israel is currently preparing for a large-scale offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah which officials say is necessary to eradicate the last remaining Hamas battalions still taking refuge amongst civilians.  

Hamas is still believed to be holding 133 hostages out of the 253 it captured on the October 7 assault.   

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