US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says he will visit five Arab nations in an effort to prevent a further escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Blinken told reporters in Israel on Thursday that he will travel to Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Qatar through Sunday.

He also said he is scheduled to meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Jordan.

His announcement comes as the Israeli military steps up preparations for a possible ground offensive on the Gaza Strip, which is controlled by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas.

Blinken said he will urge Arab leaders to help prevent the conflict from spreading, and use their leverage to secure the release of hostages taken by Hamas.

Asked what made Hamas carry out a massive attack on Israel, Blinken said he could not provide any definitive answer. But he added that the United States has been "trying to support and advance the possibility of normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia."

Blinken went on to say, "Who opposes normalization?" He then named Hamas, the Shia militant group Hezbollah and Iran.

A senior US Defense Department official says Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will visit Israel on Friday.

The official said Austin will hold talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.