Blinken says US will 'always be there' for Israel

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has promised unwavering support for Israel in its fight against what he described as a Hamas "reign of terror".

Speaking with PM Benjamin Netanyahu about last weekend's deadly attack by Gaza-based militants, Mr Blinken said Israel will "never, ever" be alone.

He also urged Israel to avoid harming civilians in the conflict.

At least 1,300 Israelis were killed, and over 1,400 Palestinians have died in air strikes on Gaza.

Twenty-seven US citizens are known to have died in Israel and 14 are missing, feared abducted.

On Thursday, the State Department announced that it would begin arranging charter flights for US citizens still in Israel who hope to leave beginning on 13 October. These flights are expected to be augmented in the "coming days".

Hamas, which is designated a terrorist organisation by the US and European Union, took up to 150 people hostage when its gunmen stormed through the Gaza security barrier on Saturday in a co-ordinated land, air and sea attack. It was the deadliest assault by Palestinian militants in Israel's 75-year history.

More on Israel Gaza war

• Follow live: Latest updates

• Hostages: Who are the people taken from Israel?

• Gaza: What life is like in the Gaza Strip

• Explained: What's going on in Gaza and Israel, and why now?

• History behind the story: The Israel-Palestinian conflict

America's top diplomat met Mr Netanyahu in Tel Aviv on Thursday, where he was thanked for the US support.

During a joint press conference, Mr Blinken told Israelis "you may be strong enough on your own to defend yourself, but as long as America exists you will never, ever have to".

He also stressed the importance of taking "every possible precaution" to avoid harming more civilians as fighting continues.

The US mourned "the loss of every innocent life", he added.

Concerns have been mounting for Gaza's civilian population amid dwindling supplies and expectations of an Israeli ground offensive.

Mr Blinken also condemned the deaths caused by the "heinous attacks" of Hamas.

Mr Netanyahu said that Mr Blinken's visit to Israel was a "tangible example of America's unequivocal support of Israel".

"President Biden was absolutely correct in calling this sheer evil," he added, referring to the unprecedented attack on the Jewish Sabbath.

Mr Blinken also met Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Thursday.

On Friday he will meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Jordan's King Abdullah in the Jordanian capital Amman.

US President Joe Biden on Wednesday said he had made it clear to Mr Netanyahu that Israel "must operate by the rules of war" in its response to Hamas' attacks.

He has also said Israel has a duty to respond to an "act of sheer evil".

Israel has said a total blockade - including on food, fuel and other essentials - imposed on Gaza since the attacks would not be lifted until hostages are freed.

Israel has vowed to annihilate Hamas and has launched a bombing campaign on the enclave of 2.3 million people.

Reuters quoted an unnamed US state department official as saying there were up to 600 Americans in Gaza, some of whom wanted to leave.

Aid agencies, meanwhile, have been calling for humanitarian corridors to ease the suffering of civilians in Gaza.