US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday spoke via phone with President Isaac Herzog.
“The Secretary reiterated US support for Israel’s right to defend itself against terrorism consistent with international humanitarian law and emphasized the need to take feasible precautions to minimize harm to civilians,” said State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller in a statement released following the call.
“Secretary Blinken and President Herzog discussed efforts to safeguard US citizens in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza; continue working tirelessly to bring hostages home; increase urgently the pace and volume of humanitarian assistance that is entering Gaza for distribution to Palestinian civilians; and prevent the conflict from spreading,” he added.
Miller confirmed earlier that Blinken will visit Israel on Friday for meetings with members of the government there.
"Secretary Blinken will travel to Israel on Friday for meetings with members of the Israeli government, and then will make other stops in the region," he said.
The visit will be Blinken’s second to Israel since the start of the war against Hamas.
During the previous visit, Blinken met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog.
He also held an emotional meeting with survivors of the Hamas massacre at the Supernova music festival.