Antony Blinken, the US secretary of state, arrived in Israel on Thursday 12 October, in a show of support after the deadly attacks by Hamas.
Mr Blinken is due to meet senior Israeli officials, including prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to discuss further boosting military support offered to Washington’s closest Middle East ally.
“I’m going with a very simple and clear message... that the United States has Israel’s back,” he told reporters before boarding a plane bound for Israel.
He is also expected to seek the release of hostages kidnapped by Hamas, some of whom are American, and will urge restraint and seek safe passage for Gaza’s civilians ahead of a possible Israeli ground offensive.
Some 22 US citizens are also known to have died in Israel.
