US’ Blinken seeks aid breakthrough amid air raid sirens in Israel

TEL AVIV - US Secretary of State Antony Blinken took shelter with Benjamin Netanyahu in a bunker during an air raid alert, a US official said, as the US top diplomat returned to Israel on Monday in hopes of securing progress on

the unfolding humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Mr Blinken is also seeking to

prevent the conflict spreading

as he travels around the Middle East in the aftermath of Hamas’ Oct 7 attacks that killed 1,300 people.

Israel has responded with an intense bombing campaign and has

amassed tanks at the border of the Hamas-controlled Gaza

in preparation for a ground offensive, amid rising concern for civilians who are unable to leave the besieged strip.

Hamas has frequently launched rocket attacks at Israel.

During a meeting at the Defence Ministry in Tel Aviv, which lasted more than five hours into Monday night, Mr Blinken and Prime Minister Netanyahu were

forced to shelter in a bunker

for five minutes after sirens rang out, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said.

Speaking to reporters after an earlier meeting with Mr Blinken, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said, “This will be a long war; the price will be high. But we are going to win for Israel and the Jewish people and for the values that both countries believe in.”

Mr Blinken was in Egypt on Sunday, where he said

the Egyptian-controlled Rafah border crossing into Gaza would soon reopen,

but a deal to allow aid in and for some foreign citizens to leave had not yet materialised.

Mr Miller said Mr Blinken discussed humanitarian coordination with Mr Netanyahu at an earlier meeting.

Washington has

moved an aircraft carrier strike group to the eastern Mediterranean

and is set to move another carrier to the region in coming days, moves Mr Blinken has said are meant as a deterrent, not a provocation.

The United States has told some troops, potentially 2,000, to be ready to deploy within 24 hours if notified – instead of the usual 96 hours – to the region and could include units that provide assistance like medical aid if needed, a US official said. REUTERS