In Israel, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is holding urgent talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other top officials.

It comes as fighting between Israeli forces and Hamas is spreading across the Gaza Strip.

Blinken is expected to urge Israeli leaders to reduce the intensity of their campaign in Gaza. He is also calling on them to do more to protect civilian life.

He met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog earlier in the day. He also held talks with leaders in Jordan and Qatar before arriving in Israel.

Blinken said, "Of course, we'll have an opportunity to sit with the families of some of the hostages and discuss our relentless effort to bring everyone home and back with their families. And there's lots to talk about, in particular about the way forward."

The Israeli military expanded its ground operation in the city of Khan Younis in southern Gaza on Tuesday.
It says its troops killed about 40 Hamas fighters and found a large cache of weapons in underground tunnels.

Qatar-based TV network Al Jazeera reports that Israeli forces have also carried out attacks on a refugee camp in central Gaza, and the southern city of Rafah.

More than three months have passed since the conflict began on October 7. Health authorities in Gaza say 23,084 people have been killed.