Cease-fire put US in position 'to building something more positive': Blinken

Secretary of State Antony Blinken joined ABC's "This Week" Sunday to discuss the U.S. response to the conflict between Israel and Hamas and the recent cease-fire.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on ABC's "This Week" that Thursday's cease-fire was "critical" to put the United States in a position "to make a pivot to building something more positive," after 11 days of violence between Israel and Hamas. "That has to start now with dealing with the grave humanitarian situation in Gaza. Then reconstruction, rebuilding what's -- what's been lost. And critically, engaging both sides in trying to start to make real improvements in the lives of people so that Israelis and Palestinians can live with equal measures of security, of peace and dignity," Blinken told "This Week" anchor George Stephanopoulos on Sunday. The cease-fire came after nearly two weeks of violence between Israel and Hamas that left more than 250 dead and hundreds more injured. Blinken plans travel to the region in the coming days and will meet with Palestinian, Israeli and regional counterparts to discuss relief efforts.