US diplomat meets Netanyahu to push for ‘concrete steps’ to protect Gaza civilians
US diplomat Antony Blinken has met with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss “concrete steps” to minimise harm to civilians in Gaza.
The meeting comes after Israel’s military said it had “completed the encirclement of Gaza City” and was attacking Hamas infrastructure.
The leader of the Lebanese Islamist group Hezbollah is set to speak later as the group intensifies its attacks on Israel. The Israeli government said it is sending Gazans working in Israel back to the besieged enclave, but has not given details.
Meanwhile, about 100 British nationals are on the list of approved people to leave Gaza today via the Rafah crossing into Egypt.
More than 9,000 people in Gaza have been killed since 7 October.
Israel started bombing Gaza following the 7 October Hamas attacks in Israel that killed more than 1,400 people and kidnapped more than 200 others. It’s believed those kidnapped are being held in underground Hamas tunnels.