Blinken meets Israeli opposition figures in Tel Aviv

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met separately with Israeli opposition figures Benny Gantz and Yair Lapid in Tel Aviv.

A statement from Gantz's office said the former war cabinet minister urged Blinken to apply "maximum pressure" on negotiators to reach a hostage release deal, saying he will "support any responsible arrangement on the matter from outside the government".

Gantz also told Blinken that "Israel will not hesitate to act forcefully" against Hezbollah in Lebanon if the threat the group poses cannot be removed.