US Secretary of State Antony Blinken promised this Sunday that “Rafah will be opened” after meeting Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.

“Rafah will be open,” he said. “We together with the UN, Egypt, Israel and other countries are implementing mechanisms that can be used to distribute aid and reach the people who need it.”

Blinken also announced President Joe Biden’s appointment of David Satterfield, the former US ambassador to Turkey, to help coordinate relief efforts. Blinken said Satterfield would be in Israel this Monday to begin coordination.

“He’ll be on the floor tomorrow to get things sorted so we can move forward,” Blinken said of Satterfield.

Blinken, who has met with several regional leaders, including from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, said he had “very good conversations” with el-Sisi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

He added that all the countries he spoke with had the same goals as the government, namely avoiding escalation and ensuring assistance to civilians trapped in Gaza.

“These are difficult and challenging times, but there is a determination I’m hearing from all parties to get through this, get through it, and do it together,” Blinken said of his meeting with regional leaders.

Blinken said that while the US supports Israel’s right to defend itself, he hopes Israel will respond “in a way that affirms the shared values ​​we have for human life and human dignity.”

“How Israel does this matters. “They must do so in a way that affirms the shared values ​​we have for human life and human dignity, taking every precaution to avoid harm to civilians,” he said. “Civilians should not suffer the consequences of Hamas atrocities.”

When asked whether the United States would defend Israel in the event of an escalation, Blinken said: “I don’t think we could be clearer that when it comes to Israel’s security, we stand with Israel.”

And he added: “We will be by your side today, tomorrow and every day.”

Blinken assured that the US strike groups mobilized in the region did not intend to “provoke anyone, but rather send a very clear message of deterrence, that no one should do anything that expands this conflict in any way, or encourages aggression against Israel from other parties.” another address.”

“No one should do anything that would add fuel to the fire elsewhere. I think that’s very clear,” he added.

Blinken also said the US welcomed Egypt’s plan to host an international regional summit to address the Palestinian situation, adding that this was a “positive thing.”

Blinken outlined two paths he sees for this conflict and for the Middle East in general: one that ensures peace and prosperity, and another path that surrenders to Hamas’ “vision of death, destruction, nihilism and terrorism.”

Hamas’s vision is one that “does nothing to advance the aspirations of the Palestinian people,” he warned, but instead “brings total darkness.”