Biden despatched his top diplomat, Antony Blinken, to the Middle East to show Washington's enduring support for Israel, seek to secure the release of captives, including Americans, and prevent a wider war from erupting. HAMAS 'WILL CEASE TO EXIST,' ISRAELI DEFENSE CHIEF SAYSHamas-affiliated media said on Wednesday seven people were killed by Israeli air strikes on homes in Khan Younis in southern Gaza. Israel withdrew Jewish settlers and Israeli troops from Gaza in 2005 after 38 years of occupation. Washington said it was talking with Israel and Egypt about safe passage for civilians from Gaza, with food in short supply. Former Defense Minister Benny Gantz, a centrist opposition leader, spoke live on Israeli television alongside Netanyahu and Defense Minister Gallant after forming a war cabinet focused entirely on the conflict.

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Persons: Biden, Joe Biden, Antony Blinken, Blinken, Jordan, Mahmoud Abbas, Khan Younis, Abu Mustafa, Yoav Gallant, Benjamin Netanyahu, Washington, Benny Gantz, Netanyahu, Gallant, Gantz, Jeff Mason, Humeyra Pamuk, Jarrett Renshaw, Rami Ayyub, Simon Lewis, Maayan Lubell, Emily Rose, Nidal, Howard Goller Organizations: Wednesday, Iran, Hezbollah, West Bank, Palestinian, Health Ministry, Jewish, REUTERS, ISIS, Israeli, Islamic, Hamas, ISRAEL, Former, Defense, Unity Party, Thomson Locations: Iran, Israel, WASHINGTON, JERUSALEM, GAZA, Gaza, Palestinian, rampaged, Washington, Gaza , U.S, Khan, U.N, Israeli, Egypt, Jerusalem