Blinken arrives in Israel to press for humanitarian ‘pause’

Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Israel on Friday to press for a humanitarian “pause,” according to The Associated Press.

Blinken’s visit to Israel is his third since the start of the conflict between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas early last month. It comes after President Biden earlier this week also called for a “pause.” However, the White House has pushed back against a cease-fire. 

“I think we need a pause. A pause means give time to get the prisoners out,” Biden said Wednesday. 

Blinken met with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday, as well as his war cabinet. The secretary of State is expected to visit Amman, Jordan, later in his trip.

Israeli officials said soldiers were in Gaza City on Thursday, after encircling it.

Blinken’s visit comes shortly after 13 Democratic senators called for a short-term “cessation of hostilities.” 

“The failure to adequately protect non-combatant civilians risks dramatic escalation of the conflict in the region and imposes severe damage on prospects for peaceful coexistence between Israelis and Palestinians,” reads a statement released late Thursday by senators including Sens. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.). 

“Based on the consensus opinion of U.S. and international aid officials, it is nearly impossible to deliver sufficient humanitarian aid to protect civilian life under current conditions,” the senators added. “Thus, we join President Biden in his call for a short-term cessation of hostilities that pose high-risk to civilians, aid workers or humanitarian aid delivery in Gaza[.]”

Updated at 8:36 a.m. ET