Blinken seeks 'enduring end' to Gaza war in latest Mideast tour [View all]

Source: Agence France-Presse

Blinken seeks 'enduring end' to Gaza war in latest Mideast tour

Issued on: 05/02/2024 - 05:47
Modified: 05/02/2024 - 21:12

Gaza Strip (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) – US Secretary of State Antony Blinken kicked off Monday a Middle East tour seeking a new truce and "an enduring end" to the Israel-Hamas war, as Gaza saw no let-up in fighting.

On his fifth trip to the region since Hamas's October 7 attack that triggered the war, Blinken met Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler in Riyadh and was later expected to visit Israel and mediators Egypt and Qatar.

Blinken and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman discussed "regional coordination to achieve an enduring end to the crisis in Gaza", said State Department spokesman Matthew Miller.

They also spoke of "the urgent need to reduce regional tensions", Miller said, referring to a surge in attacks across the region by Iran-backed Hamas allies that triggered counterattacks by the United States and its partners.

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Read more: https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20240205-blinken-heads-to-mideast-to-press-for-truce