U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Israel and the Palestinian government in the occupied West Bank next Wednesday (May 26) and Thursday to further cement an Israeli-Palestinian cease-fire, Reuters reports, citing sources. (Ben STANSALL/ AFP)
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Israel and the Palestinian government in the occupied West Bank next Wednesday (May 26) and Thursday to further consolidate the Israeli-Palestinian ceasefire, Reuters reports, citing sources.
The full itinerary of Blinken’s visit has not been announced by the U.S., Israel and the Palestinians. The State Department announced Thursday (May 20) that Blinken will travel to the Middle East, revealing that he will “discuss reconstruction efforts and work together to build a better future for Israelis and Palestinians.
The sources also said that Blinken’s trip to the Middle East will also include visits to Egypt and Jordan, where Egypt has played an important role in mediating the current Israeli-Palestinian conflict, helping to bring about a cease-fire.
Egypt has ties with Israel and Hamas, and has been the main mediator in successive conflicts in Gaza.
Blinken has previously said he will travel to the Middle East in the coming days and looks forward to meeting with Israeli, Palestinian and regional leaders.
Since the outbreak of the Israeli-Palestinian military conflict on May 10, Israel has launched hundreds of air strikes, destroying many Hamas military installations, including a vast network of tunnels. Hamas and other militant groups have fired more than 4,000 rockets into Israel, and Israel says 90 percent of them have been intercepted.
At least 230 Palestinians have been killed and 12 in Israel, according to Gaza health officials.
On Thursday afternoon (May 20) EST, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s security cabinet has approved a cease-fire to end an 11-day military operation in the Gaza Strip. Hamas then promptly confirmed the ceasefire.
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