Blinken urges protection for civilians in Gaza amid fears war could widen

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, left, shakes hands with Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Tel Aviv, Israel, Friday, Nov. 3, 2023. Blinken is in Israel to press for more humanitarian aid to be allowed into besieged Gaza. (Jonathan Ernst/Pool Photo via AP)

US secretary of state Antony Blinken has urged Israel to do everything in its power to protect civilians caught up in the fighting in Gaza and ensure they receive humanitarian aid, while underscoring the country’s right to defend itself.

Israel, meanwhile, warned that it was on high alert for attacks on its border with Lebanon as fears grew that the conflict could widen.