Antony Blinken Heads to Israel and Jordan for Mideast Diplomacy Amid Gaza Crisis
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is making a trip to Israel and Jordan from March 21 to 24.
The visit was announced after a phone call between Blinken and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about ongoing hostage-release talks between the US and Israel.
Blinken had previously stopped in Ireland and was en route to Saudi Arabia before heading to Israel and Jordan.
The United States, Egypt, and Qatar have been working towards a new truce between Israel and Hamas for several months due to increasing public pressure.
President Biden expressed concerns about a potential Israeli operation in Rafah, a city in southern Gaza housing over one million Palestinians.
The State Department announced that Secretary of State Antony Blinken would visit Saudi Arabia to discuss ceasefire efforts, but added that Hamas was hindering the peace process.
No details were immediately provided regarding Blinken's upcoming stops in Israel and the Palestinian territories.