Secretary of State Antony Blinken is visiting the Middle East. Israeli forces said they killed Hashem Safieddine, a top Hezbollah leader.

Aid workers and UN officials say humanitarian conditions are dire in Gaza where the war has displaced nearly the entire population of 2.3 million and led to a hunger crisis. It has also led to allegations of genocide against Israel at the World Court, which Israel denies.

TEL AVIV — Israeli leaders told Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday that it is not Israel’s policy to isolate nor thern Gaza, a senior State Department official said, even as the United Nations reported its requests to bring desperately needed humanitarian assistance to the area continued to be denied.

The Biden administration is stepping up criticism of Israel for not doing enough to improve humanitarian conditions in Gaza as a 30-day deadline looms for Israeli officials to meet certain requirements or risk potential restrictions on military assistance.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken gestures as he walks with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, at the Kerem Shalom border crossing, Israel, May 1, 2024. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/Pool/File Photo JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel said on Monday it had met most demands by the United States to improve humanitarian conditions in Gaza but was still discussing some items as a deadline looms to improve the situation or face potential restrictions on U.

The White House gave Israel 30 days to hugely increase the amount of humanitarian aid getting into Gaza. That deadline is approaching fast.