At the White House on Friday, US President Joe Biden sounded hopeful, yet not entirely confident that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu won't order a massive land invasion in Rafah.
Biden told reporters he's had extensive, almost hour-long conversations with Netanyahu in recent days, where he's made the case against invading Rafah.
"There has to be a temporary ceasefire to get the prisoners out, and that is underway," Biden said.
"I'm still hopeful that that can be done. And in the meantime, I don't anticipate - I'm hoping that the Israelis will not make any massive land invasion in the meantime. So it's my expectation that's not going to happen."
US president: Gaza hostage deal is being negotiated now
Biden said it's his "hope and expectation" that a hostage deal will be reached and the American hostages will be brought home.
"The deal is being negotiated now and we're going to see where that takes us," Biden said.