JERUSALEM

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant discussed with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, seeking an "alternative" to the rule of the Palestinian Hamas group in the Gaza Strip.

The Israeli Defense Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday that Gallant met with Blinken in Washington and that they discussed the developments of the ongoing Israeli war on Gaza along with the escalation in northern Israel with the Lebanese Hezbollah group.

According to the statement, Gallant told Blinken "the eyes of both our enemies and our friends are on the relationship between the US and Israel," adding that they "must resolve the differences between us quickly and stand together."

During the meeting, they also discussed promoting "a governing alternative" to Hamas rule in Gaza.

Israel launched a deadly offensive on the Gaza Strip on Oct. 7, 2023, killing over 37,600 Palestinians and injuring nearly 86,100, following an attack by the Hamas group on Israeli surrounding locations to Gaza.

Gallant also stressed the importance for the US to stand with Israel in the face of Hezbollah and to change the security situation along the Israeli northern borders with Lebanon.

Tensions have soared along Lebanon's border with Israel amid cross-border attacks between Hezbollah and Israeli forces. The group has linked the cessation of its attacks on Israel to the end of Israel's onslaught on Gaza.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar