UPDATE 2 - US' Blinken meets Israeli war-time Cabinet amid Gaza pause

UPDATES WITH STATEMENT OF ISRAELI PREMIER'S OFFICE; CHANGES TITLE, DECK, LEDE

By Zein Khalil and Abdelraouf Arnaout

JERUSALEM (AA) – US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday met with Tel Aviv's war-time Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip.

The meeting in West Jerusalem was preceded by bilateral talks between Netanyahu and Blinken, the Israeli premier's office said in a statement.

Netanyahu hailed the support of Blinken and US President Joe Biden, saying he is eager to talk "about the next stage" in Gaza.

Earlier on Thursday, Blinken affirmed the US' eagerness to see the humanitarian pause in the Gaza Strip between Israel and Palestinian group Hamas extended yet again.

"I am heartened to see another American included among the hostages released in Gaza," Blinken said on X.

"The pause in fighting has demonstrated success in securing the freedom of hostages and in delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza – we want to see it continue," he added.

The remarks came shortly before his expected meeting with Netanyahu.

Blinken arrived in Israel late Wednesday to discuss the possibility of extending the humanitarian pause, which this week was first extended for two days and then one more.

Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth said this is Blinken's fourth visit to the country since the outbreak of the fighting on Oct. 7.

Besides meeting top Israeli officials, Blinken is also expected to visit the West Bank city of Ramallah and meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, the daily said.

The temporary humanitarian pause in the Gaza Strip was extended on Thursday for one more day, making for seven in total.

Qatar announced an agreement late Monday to extend the initial four-day pause in Gaza for two more days, under which further prisoner exchanges were carried out and humanitarian aid facilitated.

Israel launched a massive military campaign in the Gaza Strip following a cross-border attack by Hamas on Oct. 7.

It has since killed over 15,000 people, including 6,150 children and 4,000 women, according to health authorities in the enclave.

The official Israeli death toll stands at 1,200.

*Writing by Mahmoud Barakat and Ahmed Asmar