US secretary of state will discuss talks brokered by Egypt and Qatar on securing a temporary ceasefire but is not scheduled to visit Israel
Antony Blinken attends a press conference in Manila before later departing for Saudi Arabia. Photograph: EVELYN HOCKSTEIN/POOL/AFP via Getty ImagesMr Blinken will meet Saudi leaders in Jeddah and Egyptian leaders in Cairo to discuss talks brokered by Egypt and Qatar on an agreement as well as efforts to get more aid into Gaza.
“We’ve been doing a lot of work since January, particularly with our Arab partners, and we’ll be pursuing those conversations, as well as discussing what is the right architecture for lasting regional peace,” Mr Blinken said at a news conference during at a previous stop in Manila. Nearly 32,000 people have been confirmed killed in Israel's retaliatory onslaught, according to Palestinian health officials in Hamas-run Gaza, with thousands more feared lost under the rubble.
Tensions have heightened between US president Joe Biden’s administration and the government of Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu, who on Tuesday rebuffed Mr Biden’s plea to call off a planned ground assault in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where more than a million displaced Palestinians are sheltering.
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Blinken due in Middle East in new push for Gaza ceasefireUS Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected to return to the Middle East today in a new attempt to secure a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war.
Read more »
Blinken to push for Gaza ceasefire on Mid East tripAntony Blinken says that his trip to the Middle East has several aims, including reaching a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and the release of hostages.
Read more »
Israel-Hamas war: starvation being used as a weapon, says top EU officialLack of aid entering Gaza is a ‘manmade’ disaster, EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell tells UN
Read more »
Hamas and Israel should have no part in governing Gaza after conflict, Varadkar saysTaoiseach says proposals put forward by Israel for the ‘day after’ the conflict are unacceptable
Read more »
Middle East crisis: Netanyahu ‘hurting Israel more than helping’ it, says BidenUS military ship sets sail with equipment to build a temporary pier off the coast of Gaza
Read more »
Former Fine Gael minister urges Biden to confront Varadkar over criticism of IsraelA former Fine Gael minister has called on President Joe Biden to confront Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald over their criticism of Israel. Alan Shatter, a strong supporter of Israel, believes that the Irish government and Sinn Féin have been unfair to the Jewish State since the Hamas attack that killed over 1,200 people. Israel launched a campaign against Gaza following the attack, resulting in at least 30,000 deaths.
Read more »