Blinken meets Netanyahu to push for 'concrete steps' to protect Gaza civilians

BBC updates:

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has arrived in Israel for talks with PM Benjamin Netanyahu - it's his second visit since Hamas's attacks on 7 October.

Before his departure, he said he would seek "concrete steps" from Israel to minimise harm to Palestinians in Gaza.

Israel's military says it has "completed the encirclement of Gaza City" and has been attacking outposts, headquarters and other Hamas infrastructure.

Meanwhile, about 100 British nationals are on the list of people approved to leave Gaza today via the Rafah crossing into Egypt.

Israel announced the deaths of four more soldiers fighting in the ground offensive, bringing the reported toll to 23.

Gazans working in Israel are being sent back to the besieged enclave, the Israeli government says
Israel began its operation after Hamas killed more than 1,400 people in Israel and kidnapped more than 200 others.

The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza says more than 9,000 people have been killed in the Strip since 7 October.