Tel Aviv - U S State Secretary  Antony Blinken arrived in Tel Aviv on Friday for his second trip to Israel in a month, with the aim of urging humanitarian pauses in the ongoing Gaza conflict.

Israel has recently encircled Gaza City in its campaign against Hamas, and Blinken is set to hold discussions with Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to address the dire humanitarian situation in besieged Gaza.

Gaza, home to 2.3 million people, is grappling with severe shortages of food, fuel, water, and medicine, and the conflict has resulted in significant casualties among Palestinian civilians.

Gaza health authorities report over 9,000 people killed since Israel's assault began, while Israel claims that Hamas, in its retaliatory attacks, killed 1,400 people, primarily civilians.

The White House has expressed support for temporary and localized pauses in fighting but emphasized Israel's right to self-defense. Secretary Blinken emphasized the importance of protecting the lives of both Israeli and Palestinian children affected by the conflict.

The newly appointed U.S. ambassador to Israel, Jacob Lew, accompanied Blinken on his visit to Tel Aviv.

In response to mounting international calls for a ceasefire, the United Arab Emirates, one of the few Arab states with diplomatic ties to Israel, has been working to broker an immediate ceasefire, citing the risk of regional spillover and further escalation.

However, Israel has rejected these calls, arguing that it targets Hamas fighters who it claims deliberately use the civilian population and buildings as cover. The White House has also resisted calls for an immediate ceasefire.

 Blinken is scheduled to meet with Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi in Amman on Saturday, where Safadi has called for an end to the conflict in Gaza, describing Israel's actions as war crimes against civilians.

The situation in Gaza has reached a critical point, with over a third of the territory's hospitals not operational, leading to overcrowded conditions. International observers have expressed concern about the risk of genocide faced by Palestinians in Gaza.

As Israel intensifies its campaign against Hamas, discussions have begun regarding a post-Hamas Gaza, should Israel succeed in removing the group, which has controlled Gaza since 2007.

Possible scenarios include the deployment of a multinational force, an interim Palestinian-led administration excluding Hamas, a security and governance role for neighboring Arab states, and temporary U.N. supervision of the territory.

Israel's military efforts have faced challenges, including encounters with mines and booby traps in Gaza. Hamas and Islamic Jihad fighters have been using tunnels to engage Israeli forces and then retreating underground.

The United States is reportedly flying intelligence-gathering drones over Gaza to aid in locating hostages. Additionally, Thailand has been in contact with Iran and other governments with influence over Hamas in an effort to secure the release of Thai hostages.

The Rafah crossing from Gaza to Egypt is set to open for a third day to allow limited evacuations under a Qatari-brokered agreement. This initiative aims to facilitate the departure of foreign passport holders, their dependents, and critically injured Gazans. Israel has requested foreign countries to send hospital ships to assist with the medical needs of these individuals.

The situation in Gaza remains highly complex, with concerns over the welfare of civilians and the need for a comprehensive resolution to the conflict.