WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke Saturday with Egypt, a main intermediary between Hamas and Israel, to seek an immediate end to the violence in the Middle East, State Department stated.
Blinken Speaks with Egypt FM to Seek ‘Halt’ to Violence in Middle East
In a statement, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said that in a telephone chat with his Egypt’s counterpart Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, the US Secretary of State raised “the urgency in achieving an immediate end,” to the ongoing violence in the region.
Palestinian Health Ministry said that 232 Palestinians have been martyred in Israeli airstrikes on besieged Gaza following a Hamas surprise attack on Israel. In an update on its social media, the health ministry stated on Saturday that 1,697 Palestinians were also injured in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza. The ministry maintained that its medical teams were making efforts “to save dozens of critical injured people”.
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On other hand, Israeli media said that 250 Israelis have been killed in an escalation with Hamas. It added that more than 1,000 Israelis were injured in surprise attack of Hamas. According to Turkish media, the fighting is still taking place in southern Israel.
Earlier, AFP reported that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas also held telephonic conversation with Blinken and French President Emmanuel Macron amid escalating tension in the middle east, Western media reported on Saturday.
As per media reports, US Secretary of State said that he has held telephonic talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and discussed current situation in the region.
