Antony Blinken visits Israel amid war

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has arrived in Israel for urgent talks with Israeli officials about their escalating war with Hamas in Gaza. Blinken landed in Tel Aviv Friday on what is his third trip to Israel in less than a month since the conflict erupted after Hamas’ deadly Oct. 7 attacks. Blinken will also visit Jordan and may make additional stops on the region over the weekend before traveling on to Asia early next week. Blinken will meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other top officials on the trip, which comes at a highly charged and sensitive time as Israel intensifies its military operations in Gaza at the same time as international criticism of its tactics increases over a large number of civilian casualties.