US in talks with countries including Israel and Egypt to allow safe passage of Americans and other civilians out of Gaza

The US government is in discussions with partner countries, including Egypt and Israel, about ensuring safe passage for Americans and other civilians out of Gaza, US officials said.

However, according to one US official, Egypt wants to use a humanitarian corridor to send food and medical supplies into Gaza but doesn't want to open the border in the other direction to accept civilians who are fleeing.

Discussions about establishing a humanitarian corridor are "ongoing," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday prior to departing for Israel.

"We're talking to Israel about that. We're talking to Egypt about that. It's an ongoing conversation. I can't get into the details," Blinken said in a brief news conference on the ramp at Joint Base Andrews.

The top US diplomat noted it was "understandably complicated."

"We want to make sure to the best of our ability - and I know Israel wants to make sure to the best of its ability - that civilians are not harmed. But Israel has to take steps to defend itself. It has to make sure that any ongoing threat is dealt with, and I believe it has to make sure that, going forward, what happened doesn't happen again," he said.

A senior Israeli official told CNN that talks are "underway" to allow US citizens and Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip to exit the territory into Egypt ahead of any land invasion of the territory by Israeli forces.