Blinken to Meet Middle East Counterparts Following Gaza Cease-Fire

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to the Middle East region to meet with Israeli and Palestinian leaders after a cease-fire with Hamas was signed on Thursday by the Israeli Security Cabinet, The Hill reports.

According to the State Department spokesperson, Blinken had a telephone communication with the Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi regarding the cease-fire and Blinken’s trip to the region.

Israeli Foreign Minister welcomed Secretary Blinken’s planned travel to the region, where the Blinken will meet with Israeli, Palestinian, and regional counterparts in the coming days to discuss recovery efforts and working together to build better futures for Israelis and Palestinians.

Blinken visit was announced shortly after the Israeli Security Cabinet ended the 11-day conflict approving cease-fire with Hamas in Israel and the Gaza Strip, negotiated by Egypt.

The cease-fire put an end to probably the most brutal fighting in the region since 2014 in which Hamas has fired thousands of rockets at Israel, who responded by leveling buildings and other infrastructure in Gaza.

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh welcomed the success of the international efforts led by Egypt to stop the Israeli aggression against Palestinians in Gaza Strip. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, on the other side,  thanked US President Joe Biden for his part in the successful Egyptian-mediated ceasefire.

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