US Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed efforts to release additional hostages when he spoke with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani on Wednesday, the State Department said.He also discussed the importance of ensuring the safe passage of foreign nationals out of Gaza, the State Department said.

Al Jazeera reported that IDF forces are operating in the city of Azzun in the West Bank on early Thursday morning and have raided several buildings in the area.