Blinken meets Netanyahu, Herzog to push humanitarian pauses

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken disembarks from an aircraft upon arrival in Tel Aviv, Israel November 3, 2023, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Israel November 3, 2023 an AFP correspondent travelling with him said, in a trip focused on measures to minimise harm to civilians in the war in Gaza. (Photo by JONATHAN ERNST / POOL / AFP) (Photo by JONATHAN ERNST/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Israel's top leaders Friday after landing in Tel Aviv.

Blinken met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog in hopes of negotiating humanitarian pauses in the Israeli-Hamas conflict.

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The secretary of state is joined by US Ambassador to Israel Jack Lew, who was voted into his position on Tuesday.

Blinken and Lew also meting with Israel's war cabinet.

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Blinken told the press before his departure from Washington DC that protecting civilians, coordinating the safe return of hostages taken by Hamas, and preventing a wider regional conflict were among his highest priorities.