US: Blinken heads to Middle East amid Israel-Gaza ceasefire

The secretary of state says he will ‘meet with the parties to support their efforts to solidify a ceasefire’ as tensions run high in Palestinian territories.

United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken will head to the Middle East amid a ceasefire between Israelis and Palestinian factions in Gaza, but tensions have remained high in occupied East Jerusalem after Israeli police escorted Jewish settlers to enter the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound on Sunday. Blinken will depart on Monday for a short visit to Israel, the occupied West Bank, Jordan and Egypt for what will be the administration of President Joe Biden’s highest level in-person meeting on the most recent escalation, which began on May 10 and lasted for 11 days. At least 248 Palestinians, including 66 children, were killed in the Israeli bombardment of Gaza.