US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met on Sunday with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank city of Ramallah during an unannounced visit surrounded by tight security, according to the Palestinian presidential office.
It is Blinken's first visit to the occupied West Bank since Israel launched its aggression on Gaza on Oct. 7, and follows a round of talks in Israel and Jordan amid fears of a widening war.
On Saturday, Blinken participated in a ministerial meeting with his counterparts from several Arab countries, namely Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar in addition to Jordan, while Arab countries strongly condemn the continued Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip, which has led to thousands of civilian casualties.
Arab foreign ministers called for an immediate ceasefire and an end to the war in Gaza, while Blinken said a ceasefire now would allow Hamas to reposition itself and repeat what it did.
Anadolu Agency quoted Turkey's Foreign Ministry as saying Blinken would visit Turkey and discuss with Turkish officials the latest developments in Gaza, regional issues and bilateral relations with Turkish officials.
For 30 days, the Israeli army has been continuing a devastating war on Gaza, in which about 9500,3900 Palestinians, including 2509,24 children and 145,2040 women, were killed, more than <>,<> others were injured, <> Palestinians were killed and about <>,<> were arrested in the West Bank, according to official Palestinian sources.
Since Operation Al-Aqsa Flood carried out by the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, on the seventh of last month, more than 1542,5431 Israelis have been killed and 242,<> wounded, according to official Israeli sources, and the Palestinian resistance has captured at least <> Israelis.