TEL AVIV: The White House expressed hope Tuesday that Israel and Hamas could close any gaps in cease-fire negotiations, as Israel warned it could “deepen” its operation in the southern Gaza city of Rafah if talks fail to secure the release of hostages.

“A close assessment of the two sides’ positions suggests that they should be able to close the remaining gaps, and we’re going to do everything we can to support that process,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said.

Israel’s military said Tuesday its forces had taken control of the Gaza side of the Rafah crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, a day after ordering tens of thousands of Palestinians to leave the area and launching repeated airstrikes.

The Israeli operation comes after weeks of Israeli officials saying an offensive in Rafah was necessary to achieve their goal of defeating Hamas, while the United States, the United Nations and others warned that launching an offensive in an area crowded with Palestinian civilians could create a humanitarian disaster.

Kirby said Israeli officials have indicated the operation was limited in scope.

But Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant warned of more extensive operations in Rafah unless cease-fire talks taking place in Cairo result in the release of hostages held by Hamas.

U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres said an assault on Rafah would be a “strategic mistake, a political calamity, and a humanitarian nightmare” at a time when famine is looming over northern Gaza.

“It would be tragic if weeks of intense diplomatic activity for peace in Gaza yields no cease-fire, no release of hostages, and a devastating offensive in Rafah,” he told reporters at the United Nations.

He urged both the Israeli government and Hamas to show “the political courage” to secure a deal and stop the bloodshed and urged countries with influence over the parties to use it.

(VOA)