Blinken also pressed for more aid to be allowed into the Palestinian territory as concerns rise for tens of thousands of civilians trapped by fighting in the hard-to-reach north.

Blinken "underscored the need to capitalize on Israel's successful action to bring Yahya Sinwar to justice by securing the release of all captives and ending the conflict in Gaza in a way that provides lasting security for Israelis and Palestinians alike," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said after the talks in Jerusalem.

Blinken also "emphasised the need for Israel to take additional steps to increase and sustain the flow of humanitarian assistance into Gaza and ensure that assistance reaches civilians throughout Gaza," Miller said.

The trip comes little more than a week after the United States threatened to withhold some US aid without progress in delivering assistance to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, where the United Nations has described a catastrophic situation.

Blinken is making his 11th visit to the region since Israel launched its relentless and brutal military operation in Gaza on 7 October, 2023.

Blinken, on previous trips, has sought to prevent the conflict from escalating into a regional war. However, since last month, Israel has been striking targets across Lebanon, claiming it is determined to destroy Hezbollah, an ally of Hamas.

Miller said Blinken again called for a "diplomatic resolution" in Lebanon and for compliance with UN Security Council Resolution 1701 of 2006, which not only called for the long-term disarmament of Hezbollah but also for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from its northern neighbor.

* This story was edited by Ahram Online.