US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken landed in Tel Aviv today as part of a wider tour of the Middle East aimed at showing Washington’s solidarity with Israel following the attack by Hamas militants and trying to prevent the conflict from escalating.

America’s top diplomat it will also try to help secure the release of hostages kidnapped by Hamas – some of whom are Americans – and to advance talks with the Israelis and Egyptians on a safe passage for Gazan civilians from the densely populated enclave in the face of a possible Israeli ground invasion.

After Israel, Blinken will travel to Jordan, where he will meet with King Abdullah and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

A senior US State Department official, speaking to reporters on condition of anonymity, said that Washington is working to advance talks on providing safe passage for civilians, including Americans, in Gaza.

“There is a community of 500 to 600 Palestinian Americans, more or less, living in Gaza. Some of them want to leave…and we are working to organize a safe passage,” the official said.

The US is talking “intensively” with the governments of Israel and Egypt to arrange this, the official said.

Another priority for Blinken will be to convey a deterrent message to Iran and Iranian-backed organizations to avoid involvement in the conflict.

“We are determined to show through this visit and through further visits that we are committed to keeping other sides out of this conflict,” the official said.