Blinken in Israel for talks with Netanyah about war in Gaza

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is standing in Israel for what is expected to be tough talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the war in Gaza, while public differences over the conflict have deepened.

This is Blinken's last stop on his sixth diplomatic mission to the Middle East, in which he is expected to meet with Netanyah and his war cabinet, with the intention of convincing them not to implement their plans for a military offensive in the southern town of Rafah.

A large-scale offensive in Rafah has raised fears that it could further exacerbate the deep humanitarian crisis at the Gaza Strip.

A major military operation in Rafah would be wrong and it's something we don't support”, Blinken said the day before during his stay in Cairo, where he met with the top diplomats from Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

Blinken is expected to present Netanyah alternatives to combat the Palestinian group declared terrorist organisation by the US and the European Union in Rafah.

Talks will continue next week, when Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and a separate delegation of senior Israeli officials will visit Washington. Netanyahu agreed to this delegation's visit during a telephone conversation he had with US President Joe Biden on Monday. This was the first conversation in last month among leaders amid deepening differences.

Blinken's visit was not warned when the U.S. top diplomat began his tour of the Middle East. The visit comes after senior intelligence officials from the US, Israel, Egypt and Qatar are expected to meet in Doha to discuss details of a ceasefire agreement, envisioning the release of hostages.

Hamas, during the October 7th attack in southern Israel, an attack that sparked the war on nearly 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapped another 250.

As a result of Israel's land and air offensive, close to 32,000 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip, most women and children, according to the Health Ministry in the Hamas - led enclave. / REL/