JERUSALEM, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Friday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his war cabinet in Tel Aviv as Israel pressed ahead with its offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
It was Blinken's fourth visit to Israel since the fighting erupted on Oct. 7. He was shown an Israeli army video that purportedly documented part of the killing of Israeli civilians by Hamas on the first day of the conflict, according to a statement from Netanyahu's office.
Netanyahu told Blinken that Israel was determined to continue its military campaign until it secured the release of the Israeli hostages held by Hamas. He also said Israel would not allow any fuel or funds to reach Gaza, which has been under a crippling Israeli blockade for more than a decade.
Blinken said at a news conference that there were "important steps" that needed to be taken, the first of which was to prevent the conflict from escalating and spreading to other areas.
He also urged the Israeli side to protect Palestinian civilians, who have borne the brunt of the Israeli airstrikes and shelling, and to increase the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza.
