The situation for Americans trapped in the Gaza Strip continues to worsen as Israel prepares for a ground invasion to eradicate the terrorist cowards who make up the ranks of Hamas. 

According to the New York Post, Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed over the weekend that Hamas is preventing Americans and other foreign nationals from leaving the Gaza Strip.

Blinken broke the news during an interview with CBS' "Face the Nation."

"The ball is in the Hamas’ court in terms of letting people who want to leave — civilians from third countries including Americans," Blinken said.

"We have US personnel on the other side of the border in Egypt, consular personnel," Blinken added, but wouldn't confirm if any U.S. personnel is in the Gaza Strip, nor would he go into detail about possible American hostages in the Gaza Strip.

The ball is in the Hamas’ court in terms of letting people who want to leave — civilians from third countries including Americans,” Blinken told CBS’ “Face the Nation.” #Israel #America https://t.co/qR9lmSfbDH

— dr.Sasa (@SasanutritionD) October 22, 2023

The debate rages on as far as whether Israel should hold off on a ground invasion to allow the possibility of getting more hostages back, or going in and fighting Hamas to prevent them from gaining any additional strength.

Blinken noted that Israel has shown restraint in past weeks, as far as holding off on a full-scale ground invasion in exchange for allowing humanitarian efforts to take place.

"We’ve seen first of all that in order to get assistance in, we’ve had that happen,” he said. “We want to make sure that we have sustained delivery of food, medicine, water and things that people need," Blinken said.

The secretary acknowledged that waiting too long could provide Hamas terrorists with ample time to regroup and possibly strike again.l

"At the same time … we have to remember Israel has to do everything it can to make sure this doesn’t happen again," he said. "Freezing things in place where they are now would allow Hamas to remain where it is and to repeat what it’s done."

He went on to say that the saddening images coming out of Israel and the Gaza Strip are difficult.

"When I see the pictures of young children who have lost their lives in this conflict of Hamas’ making — whoever they are, wherever they are, whether they’re Palestinians, whether they’re Israelis, whether they’re they’re Jews or Muslims, it hits me … right in the heart," Blinken said.

Mainstream media reports that Israel is still ready to launch a full-scale ground invasion at some point in the coming days.