US Secretary of State arrives in Israel – Aim to step up truce

US Secretary of State begins a tour of the Middle East Anthony Blinken, who arrived in Tel Aviv today in hopes of stepping up the ceasefire agreed between Israel and the Palestinian movement Hamas after 11 days of heavy fighting.

The Blinken plane landed at Tel Aviv International Airport at 07:45 and later today the minister is going to meet with the Israeli prime minister. Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem. He will then travel to Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, where he will hold talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who does not control the Gaza Strip.

According to AMPE, the purpose of the visit is “To support their efforts to strengthen the ceasefire” The US Secretary of State, Joe Biden, wrote on Twitter on Monday that Blinken was “going to state his unwavering support for Israel’s security” and to continue “the government’s efforts to rebuild its relations with the United States.” Palestinians. “

Following the announcement of the ceasefire, Biden and Blinken had reiterated their support for a “two-state solution” backed by the international community, but rejected by the previous US administration under President Donald Trump.

However, not even the latest announcements of the State Department and the White House refer to “the two-state solution”. “Our real priority is to ensure that the ceasefire lasts,” a senior US official told reporters before Blinken called any “ambitious” effort “premature”.

Despite intense diplomatic efforts, tensions remain on the ground between Palestinians and Israelis.

Two people, including an Israeli soldier, were wounded Monday in a knife attack near the Sheikh Jara district of East Jerusalem. The action, a 17-year-old Palestinian, According to the official Palestinian news agency, he was killed by Israeli forces.

At the same time, the tension remains at West Bank where the Israeli army has made many arrests.

According to the Palestinian Prisoners’ Organization, 43 people were arrested overnight in the occupied West Bank and annexed East Jerusalem.

Israeli police said 1,550 arrests had been made in connection with the violence in the past two weeks.

Egypt mediates

Egypt has traditionally mediated between Palestinians and Israelis. Cairo has been working to consolidate the ceasefire, which does not contain any conditions for ending hostilities or setting out a plan to rebuild it. Gaza Strip.

An Egyptian delegation is in the Palestinian enclave to discuss with Hamas, which the US and EU consider a “terrorist” organization. Alongside Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Soukri met with Abbas in Ramallah yesterday.

The Egyptian minister had earlier indicated that his Israeli counterpart had contacted him to discuss ways to facilitate the entry of aid into Gaza.

The Israel has imposed a strict blockade on the Palestinian enclave for almost 15 years and has often accused Hamas of embezzling international aid to boost its military capabilities. Yesterday, Israel indicated that it wanted to create an international “mechanism” for sending aid that would bypass the Palestinian Authority.

Biden announced last week his intention to provide significant financial assistance to rebuild Gaza, but which would not give Hamas “the opportunity to rebuild its armaments system.” Yesterday, the US president spoke with his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sisi about “international efforts to rebuild Gaza and provide emergency humanitarian aid,” according to the Egyptian presidency.

On Monday night, Israel announced that the Kerem Salom border crossing would be open daily from today. for the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza. Until recently, this passage was opened periodically.

At the same time, patients can enter and leave Gaza for the first time since May 10, when the clashes began, and the fishing zone off the enclave will be extended to six nautical miles.

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