Antony Blinken arrives in Israel for talks with Benjamin Netanyahu

US tries to revive stalled negotiations to end Gaza war as Israel intensifies assault against Hizbollah in Lebanon

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US secretary of state Antony Blinken has arrived in Israel as the Biden administration attempts to revive stalled talks to end the war in Gaza and secure the release of hostages following the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.

With Blinken set to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the state department said there was “an opportunity to move the ball forward” on ceasefire negotiations. But diplomats say there is little momentum for renewed talks as Netanyahu’s far-right government continues its offensive in Gaza and intensifies its assault against Hizbollah in Lebanon.

A few hours before Blinken’s arrival on Tuesday, Hizbollah fired several barrages of rockets and missiles across northern and central Israel, including Tel Aviv and Haifa. The Lebanese militant group said it targeted the Glilot intelligence base just north of Tel Aviv and a naval base in Haifa.

The Israeli military said most of the 26 projectiles fired by the Iran-backed group were intercepted. There were no immediate reports of injuries.

Blinken’s visit also comes as the region is braced for the Israeli government’s response to an Iranian missile attack on Israel three weeks ago. Israel has vowed a “precise and deadly” retaliation for the barrage of 180 ballistic missiles Iran fired, in what Tehran said was a response to Israel’s assassination last month of Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi warned on Tuesday that Tehran would “respond in kind” if Israel attacked the Islamic republic. Araghchi said he had received assurances from all Iran’s neighbours that “they will not permit their airspace to be used against us”, adding that Iran’s forces are “closely monitoring activities at US bases” in the region.