The US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken stated that during his visit to Israel he would lobby Israel to adopt “humanitarian pauses” in the fighting in Gazato allow additional humanitarian aid to the Strip, but and create a better environment for the possible release of the hostages held by Hamas.

The American minister will meet with the Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv on Friday morning. After the meeting, he will meet with members of Israel’s war cabinet, Israeli President Isaac Herzog and opposition leader Yair Lapid.

Asked if Israel had shown restraint in its attack on Gaza, Blinken did not give a specific answer, repeating that Israel has the right to defend itself and the “responsibility to do everything possible to protect civilians».

Blinken will leave on Thursday to visit Israel, Jordan, Japan, South Korea and India. He emphasized that the US is “determined to prevent any escalation».