Israel-Hamas war: Blinken arrives in Israel – Reports

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has arrived in Israel, Reuters reported on Thursday, citing an eyewitness.

Earlier this week, the Haaretz newspaper reported that the official was expected to pay a visit amid the ongoing escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Upon his arrival, Blinken was greeted by Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, the Foreign Ministry said, adding that the top U.S. diplomat will hold a meeting with Cohen and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later in the day.

“The Israeli people will never forget the support the United States showed us in these hard days.

“I thank my friend U.S. State Secretary Antony Blinken, U.S. President Joe Biden, and all our friends in the U.S. for their unambiguous support of Israel, condemnation of terrorism, and standing up for the rights of the State of Israel to defend itself and its citizens,” the ministry quoted Cohen as saying in a statement.

The U.S. Secretary of State will also hold meetings with Jordanian King Abdullah II and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas after his visit to Israel, the I24News broadcaster reported on Thursday.

The meetings will reportedly take place in the Jordanian capital of Amman.

On Wednesday, UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly also visited Israel to meet with the country’s leadership and to express London’s support for victims of the conflict.

On Oct. 7, Palestinian group Hamas launched a surprise large-scale rocket attack against Israel from the Gaza Strip, prompting Israel to declare a state of war the following day and launch retaliatory strikes.

On Monday, Israel ordered a complete blockade of the Gaza Strip, home to more than 2 million people, cutting off supplies of water, food and fuel.

Both Israel and Palestine have reported several thousand deaths and injuries as a result of the escalation.

Many countries across the globe have started evacuating their citizens from Israel amid the ongoing escalation of the conflict.