We've just had the first updates from the meeting between Israel's President Isaac Herzog and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

On X, external, Herzog thanks Blinken and the US for their "unwavering support for the State of Israel".

"We discussed the ongoing plight of the hostages and the need to bring them home immediately," he says.

And - as we reported earlier - he also raises South Africa bringing a genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice.

"We will proudly and clearly present the fundamental right of Israel to defend itself," Herzog says.

Yolande Knell
Middle East correspondent, in Jerusalem

There are Israeli and Lebanese reports of another alleged Israeli drone strike on a car in southern Lebanon.

Some unconfirmed reports say that three people have been killed. There is no immediate comment from the Israeli military.

This follows an apparent Israeli strike killing a senior member of Hezbollah special forces yesterday.

Hezbollah, the powerful Iran-backed Lebanese armed group, began cross-border attacks on Israel after the deadly 7 October assault on southern Israel by Hamas. There has been almost daily violence since.

This morning, there have been repeated sirens sounding in northern Israel warning of possible incoming missile or drone attacks.

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman Avichay Adraee has given updates on strikes in the Gaza Strip over the past 24 hours.

• In the south of the Strip, he says IDF troops moved "deep" into Khan Younis and "eliminated 40 terrorists", adding "various combat means and pivotal tunnel openings were found"
• In the Maghazi area of central Gaza, he says the IDF spotted "saboteurs" and directed a plane which "attacked and eliminated" them
• And from the sea, Adraee says Israeli naval forces attacked military sites, warehouses and naval vehicles used by Hamas in Gaza

We reported earlier that 57 deaths were recorded in al-Aqsa hospital in central Gaza in the past 24 hours.

Now Wafa, the official Palestinian news agency, says Israel carried out airstrikes in central and southern areas, including around the Maghazi and al-Bureij camps.

The agency says dozens of people were killed in Jabalia and Beit Hanoun, which are both at the northern end of the Gaza strip.

Israel says it's targeting terrorists and their infrastructure, and tries to minimise civilian deaths.

Israel says it will briefly pause military activities in part of central Gaza today, to allow humanitarian supplies to come through.

The military's spokesman for the Arabic media Avichay Adraee says there will be a "local and temporary tactical suspension of military activities for humanitarian purposes in the south-east of Deir al-Balah".

It will run from 10:00 local time (08:00 GMT) until 14:00 (12:00 GMT) "for the purposes of supply".

Writing on social media, external, Adraee issued "several urgent instructions".

• The humanitarian corridor on Salah al-Din Street has been closed and is being transferred to Al-Rashid (Al-Bahr) Street
• The humanitarian corridor on Al-Rashid Street (Al-Bahr) will be open to movement from the north to the south of the Strip only, whether on foot or in cars, between the hours of 09:00 (07:00 GMT) and 16:00 (14:00 GMT)

The Hamas-controlled Gaza health ministry says 57 deaths were recorded at al-Aqsa hospital in the last 24 hours.

A statement posted on Telegram claimed 65 injured people were also brought to the hospital - which is in central Gaza - over the same period.

On Monday, international aid groups said they were pulling out of the hospital, because of Israeli assaults on the area.

Standing next to Herzog, Blinken says he has just visited a number of countries in the region, listing Turkey, Greece, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.

Blinken says he wants to "share some of what I heard from those leaders with the president".

The secretary of state adds he hopes to sit down later with the families of some of the Israeli hostages in Gaza and discuss the "relentless efforts to bring everyone home".

He concludes: "There is lots to talk about, in particular the way forward. So I look forward to these conversations."

Israeli President Isaac Herzog has just welcomed Antony Blinken to Tel Aviv - saying Israel is "grateful for all the support" from the US.

Herzog says he held talks yesterday with US Vice President Kamala Harris and reiterated concerns about a genocide allegation being filed against Israel by South Africa at the International Court of Justice.

"On Thursday a proceeding will start in the International Court of Justice at The Hague where South Africa is suing Israel for supposedly genocide," Herzog says, while standing with Blinken.

"There is nothing more atrocious and preposterous than this claim."

Tough talks ahead for Blinkenpublished at 07:31 Greenwich Mean Time 9 January

07:31 GMT 9 January

Yolande Knell
Middle East correspondent, in Jerusalem

Image source, US Embassy in Israel

The US may be Israel’s closest ally, but this looks set to be a day of tough talks.

For weeks, Washington has been calling on Israel to scale back its offensive against Hamas in Gaza, which has killed many thousands of civilians and caused widespread devastation and a deep humanitarian crisis.

Although Israel’s military says it is shifting to more targeted warfare, dozens have been killed in its latest strikes on central and southern Gaza.

In response to calls from hard-line ministers for Palestinians to move elsewhere, Blinken will say that displaced Gazans must be allowed to return home.

However, reports say Israel may tie this to a new deal to release its hostages held by Hamas.

Blinken will also press for a detailed post-war vision for Gaza and greater efforts to contain the war.

Yesterday, in a further sign of the conflict spreading, Israel is said to have killed a top commander of the Lebanese armed group, Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.

Thomas Mackintosh
Live reporter

Good morning and welcome to our coverage of the 95th day of the war in Gaza.

Today, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in Israel for talks - he's beginning with Israel's President Isaac Herzog. We'll have those quotes soon.

Blinken is expected to press for more protection of Palestinian civilians and more humanitarian aid.

Blinken began his latest Middle East tour last week - before leaving Saudi Arabia yesterday he warned against an escalation in the conflict.

We'll have news and analysis and from our team of correspondents in London and on the ground - including our reporter Anthony Zurcher, who's travelling with Blinken.