Updates on the war between Israel and Hamas: News of the Netanyahu-Blinken meeting and the latest news

He added: “I made it clear that we are continuing strongly, and that Israel rejects a temporary ceasefire that does not include the release of our hostages” held by Hamas. It has also firmly stuck to Israel’s refusal to allow fuel into Gaza, even as it allows limited shipments of other vital supplies.

Mr. Blinken told reporters in Tel Aviv that the United States stands in “solidarity” with Israel, but said that during his meetings with Mr. Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders, he stressed that it is “important” how Israel conducts its campaign to defeat Hamas. , the armed group that controls Gaza. The October 7 attack, organized by Hamas, killed more than 1,400 people and took more than 200 hostage, according to the Israeli government.

“We have given Israel advice that only the best friends can give on how to reduce civilian deaths while still achieving its goals of finding and eliminating Hamas terrorists,” Blinken said. He added that they discussed “concrete steps” to protect civilians, as well as “concrete steps” to allow more aid into Gaza, but he did not elaborate on either topic.

As President Biden continues to declare his unequivocal support for Israel, saying the country has the right to defend itself, concern within his administration about the growing Palestinian death toll — more than 9,200, according to the Hamas-controlled Gaza Ministry of Health — is growing and exacerbating. Humanitarian conditions and physical destruction resulting from the week-long Israeli bombing campaign and ground invasion.

With Israeli ground forces pushing into Gaza’s largest city and air strikes killing and wounding many Palestinians every day, anger is rising across the region even as Mr. Blinken tries to prevent Israel’s adversaries from expanding the scope of the war. Fighting escalated between Israeli forces and the armed group Hezbollah along Israel’s northern border with Lebanon, and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah delivered a fiery speech on Friday in which he condemned Israel and the United States.

After his meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Mr. Blinken said: “It is extremely important, when it comes to protecting civilians caught in the crossfire created by Hamas, that everything in our power is done to protect them and provide them with assistance.” “For those who need it most.”

But he reiterated that the United States would remain steadfast behind Israel. He told reporters that he was shown additional photos and videos collected by the Israeli government documenting the massacre of civilians on October 7. “It remains almost beyond human capacity to process and digest,” Blinken said.

The administration said the cessation of fighting would allow for the distribution of humanitarian aid, facilitate hostage negotiations, and allow more people to exit Gaza through the Rafah border crossing into Egypt. The first several hundred dual nationals, foreigners and employees of international organizations were allowed to leave this week.

The war has displaced more than a million Gazans, and the area, which is besieged by Israel, suffers from serious shortages of food, fuel, water and medicine. After a complete cessation of foreign aid during the first two weeks of the war, dozens of trucks loaded with aid are now moving daily to Gaza.

“This is a lot of progress in two weeks — but it’s also not enough,” Blinken said, echoing the view of the United Nations and aid groups.

Mr. Blinken left Israel for talks in Amman, Jordan, with Jordanian leaders and other regional partners about securing the release of hostages held by Hamas, and about preventing the war from expanding.

Michael D. Share, Cassandra Winograd And Aaron Puckerman Contributed to reports.