Israel-Hamas war live updates: U.S. urges Israel to end large-scale ground war

What we know
Jake Sullivan, the White House's national security adviser, met with Israeli officials today as U.S.-Israeli tensions hit new highs.
The Biden administration has told the Israeli government that it wants Israel to end its large-scale ground campaign in Gaza and transition to a more targeted phase of its war against Hamas, two U.S. officials familiar with the discussions told NBC News.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pushed back on criticism of Israel's war in Gaza, pledging to continue. "Nothing will stop us. We are going on to the end, until victory, nothing less," he said. His comments late yesterday came amid international condemnation of his government, including from the leader of his country's closest ally, Biden.
Another significant divide is emerging between the U.S. and Israel, with a senior Israeli diplomat saying the country "absolutely" would not accept a two-state solution following the war. This runs counter to long-standing U.S. policy objectives in the region, as well as recent Biden comments. Yesterday, a State Department spokesperson said "there can be no lasting peace and security" without a Palestinian state.
More than 18,700 Palestinians have been killed, with 70% of them women and children, according to the territory's health officials. The vast majority of its 2.2 million people are displaced, and an estimated half face starvation amid an unfolding humanitarian crisis.
Israeli military officials say 116 soldiers have been killed during the country's ground invasion in Gaza, which came after Hamas militants killed 1,200 people and seized about 240 hostages Oct. 7.
NBC News’ Richard Engel, Raf Sanchez, Hala Gorani, Hallie Jackson and Chantal Da Silva are reporting from the region.
11m ago / 11:34 PM GMT
Injured Israeli soldier who returned from Gaza says he wants to 'bring back the peace'
Hala Gorani, Chantal Da Silva and Kayla McCormick

TEL AVIV — An Israeli soldier who was evacuated out of Gaza after he was injured by mortar fire during ground operations believes the military is doing everything it can to “bring back our hostages and end the war.”

Speaking from a hospital bed, where he has been receiving care since his evacuation in early November, Sgt. First Class Ofer said his unit was “amongst the first forces” to enter the enclave. In early November, he said he was injured in mortar fire that killed a member of his unit.

The soldier, who spoke on the condition that his last name be withheld said he believed he was doing "what you're supposed to do ... You're making a way back to peace, for us and for the other side, for the civilians of the other side." Asked how he feels about mounting criticisms of the Israeli military’s offensive in Gaza, which has seen more than 18,700 people killed in the enclave, he said it wasn’t his “job or decision ... to dissect all of the different opinions.”

“I work in my operational zone, which is to bring back the peace with my unit and everyone’s forces to bring back our hostages, and end the war,” he said. “That’s what I do, and leave the other higher ground to people who need to do this.”