Blinken tells angry Israeli families hostages are 'at heart of everything' US is doing

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken promised Israeli protesters and hostage families he was doing everything he can “to bring your loved ones home,” today.

Mr Blinken, on his seventh mission to the Middle East to stop the war in Gaza, told them: “Bringing your loved ones home is at the heart of everything we are doing here.”

Referring to the Israeli leadership he said: “That’s what I told them in there.” He spoke as protests have spread throughout Israel demanding PM Benjamin Netanyahu quit and that more is done to save the lives of hostages.

They fear his war on Hamas and his determination to storm Rafah, are failing to encourage a ceasefire and prisoner-hostage swap deal to save those held in Gaza..

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Netanyahu is under pressure from right-wing hardliners in his government to press on with the war on Hamas and try to wipe out the militants. Blinken met the Israeli leadership and told them "the time is now" for an agreement that would free hostages and bring a suspension in the war.

Mr Blinken told Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Tel Aviv: "We are determined to get a ceasefire that brings the hostages home and to get it now, and the only reason that that wouldn't be achieved is because of Hamas. There is a proposal on the table, and, as we've said, no delays, no excuses." The deal would let food, medicine and water to get into Gaza, he said.

In Tel Aviv protesters chanted: "SOS, USA, only you can save the day" and "In Blinken we trust, bring them home to us", urging him to force their case on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Mr Blinken told the families of hostages: "That is our determination, and we will not rest, we will not stop until you're reunited with your loved ones.”

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But the US and UK have criticised Israel’s Rafah invasion plans which Netanyahu vows will go ahead regardless of any deal. There are some 1.5 million Palestinians sheltering from fighting and they are at risk if the Rafah operation goes ahead.

The current deal brokered by the US, Egypt and Qatar - would see the release of dozens of hostages in exchange for a six-week halt in fighting. Hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel would also be released, including some serving long sentences.

But Hamas has demanded hostage releases will bring a complete end to Israel's nearly seven-month assault in Gaza and a withdrawal of its troops. On Tuesday, an Israeli air strike hit a house in central Rafah, killing at least two children, according to hospital authorities.

On Wednesday, Israel's military said its jets struck militants in Gaza City. Israeli air defences have shot down another missile aimed at Eilat, the main suspect being Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen.

And there were more cross-border missile attacks between Hezbollah and Israel troops on Wednesday. The Gaza death toll of Palestinians is believed to be 34,568. War was sparked by Hamas's horrific October 7 raid into southern Israel in which militants killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted around 250 hostages.

Israel says the militants are still holding around 100 hostages and the remains of more than 30 others. And Jordan said hardline Israeli settlers on Wednesday attacked two aid convoys heading for Gaza.