US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrives in Israel for crisis talks, after a tour of Arab nations, at Ben Gurion Airport, near Tel Aviv on October 16, 2023. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken returned on October 16, to Israel after talks in six Arab states, hoping to coordinate efforts against Hamas while finding ways to alleviate Gaza's humanitarian crisis. Thousands of people, both Israeli and Palestinians have died since October 7, 2023, after Palestinian Hamas militants based in the Gaza Strip, entered southern Israel in a surprise attack leading Israel to declare war on Hamas in Gaza on October 8.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has returned to Israel on Monday (October 16) after spending the weekend touring the Middle East to diplomatically tackle the current Israel-Hamas War.
He was reportedly scheduled to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his war cabinet, as well as with President Isaac Herzog in Jerusalem.
The second visit came after US President Joe Biden was considering visiting Israel after he was invited by Netanyahu.
Read Also: Biden Considers Israel Visit After Invitation From Netanyahu as Gaza Full-Scale Invasion Looms
Blinken's Middle East Trip
According to the Washington Post, Blinken has met with several Middle Eastern leaders, including Presidents Abdel Fatah El-Sisi of Egypt and Mahmoud Abbas of Palestine, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Jordanian King Abdullah II.
Reacting to Israel's warning that Gaza City would be attacked and that civilians should move to the south, Blinken said he was trying to establish safe zones inside Gaza.
"Civilians should not have to suffer for Hamas's atrocities," he said in Cairo on Sunday (October 15).
Blinken was scheduled to make a speech late Monday.
This is a developing story. Please follow HNGN for more updates.
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