The Latest Breaking News from Antony Blinken

Israel’s call for half of the Gaza Strip’s population to evacuate south is hiking Egypt’s fears of a massive influx of refugees across the border into its territory

Defense secretary confirmed that the USS Gerald R Ford aircraft carrier is now in the region and a second US carrier is also on its way as he said the US ‘stands fully ready to deploy additional assets if necessary’

For Americans in Gaza, John Kirby said the US has ‘no physical means’ of getting them out at the moment

As the conflict between Israel and Palestine enters its seventh day, these are the main developments.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has arrived in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv to meet with senior government leaders and see firsthand some of the U.S. weapons and security assistance that Washington rapidly delivered to Israel in the first week of its war with Gaza's militant Hamas rulers

The move follows the deadly attacks by Hamas on Israel and Republican criticism of the White House deal with Iran, where $6 billion was unfrozen in exchange for the release of 5 detained Americans.

In today’s newsletter: With death tolls rising across the region and the increasing prospect of a ground assault on Gaza, this is where things stands after seven days

Congressional review of US’s strategic posture says security environment has worsened and US needs to respond.

Israel’s military has told 1.1 million people to move further south, UN says, warning of ‘devastating humanitarian consequences’; Gaza death toll passes 1,500, a third of them children