Live updates: Israel in political turmoil as pressure mounts over war in Gaza

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said that an Israeli postwar plan for Gaza is “imperative,” as he continues his Middle East trip pushing for a permanent ceasefire in the strip and the release of hostages taken by Hamas.

The senior diplomat reiterated that his discussions with Israeli and Arab leaders will also prioritize plans for as soon as the war ends in Gaza, where Israel’s military offensive has heavily damaged infrastructure and razed neighborhoods.

“It’s critical that we continue to work on plans for the day after, to make sure that when it comes to security in Gaza, when it comes to governance, when it comes to reconstruction, we have plans in place to move forward. That’s going to be a critical part of my conversations here in the region,” Blinken said.

Asked by CNN’s Kylie Atwood if he is concerned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu does not have a plan to end the hostilities, Blinken responded:

“In the absence of those plans, then one of three things — either Israel would have to stay, which says it doesn’t want to do and we believe that it must not do, and will be left holding the bag in Gaza and will probably have a major insurgency on its hands for years to come. Or in the absence of a plan, it leaves a loss and Hamas returns. Or we have a total vacuum and you just have chaos, lawlessness, criminality, Jihadist groups, etc. So it’s imperative that there be a plan.”