Panicked crowds flee as Israel bombs branches of bank in Lebanon

US secretary of state Antony Blinken is travelling to the Middle East today as Washington hopes to kickstart negotiations to bring back Israeli hostages from Gaza and end the war.

The top diplomat's trip will start with Israel, the state department said.

"Throughout the region, Secretary Blinken will discuss the importance of bringing the war in Gaza to an end, securing the release of all hostages, and alleviating the suffering of the Palestinian people," the state department said.

 "He will continue discussions on post-conflict period planning and emphasise the need to chart a new path forward that enables Palestinians to rebuild their lives."

The drone attack on Benjamin Netanyahu's home was an attack on all of Israel, the prime minister's wife has said.

The Israeli government said one of the prime minister’s homes was targeted on Saturday by three drones, two of which were intercepted, and that neither Mr Netanyahu nor his wife Sara were home at the time.

"Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the concern and messages that warm the heart from the country and the world," said Mrs Netanyahu, as reported by Israeli media.

She said the attempts to kill her husband were "an injury to all of us, to the people of Israel, to the values and the way of our people".

"I wish all of us quiet days and security for all of us," she added.