Secretary of State US, Antony Blinken will pay his third wartime visit to the Middle East this week to hold meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas in Ramallah.
According to a senior US official, “The secretary will stress the need to sustain the increased flow of humanitarian assistance to Gaza, secure the release of all hostages and improve protection to civilians in Gaza.”
He will discuss “the principles he laid out for the future of Gaza and the need to establish an independent Palestinian state,” the official added.
Mediator Qatar announced a two-day extension in truce between Israel and Hamas hours before the pause was due to end Tuesday, as more hostages were freed from Gaza in exchange for the release of dozens of Palestinian prisoners.—AP
