US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant discussed the situation in the Middle East on the phone.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says the Israeli defense minister To Yoav Gallantthat escalating tensions in the Middle East is not in anyone’s interests. The ministers discussed the situation in the Middle East on the phone on Friday, according to the US State Department.
In addition, Blinken emphasized the need for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, the ministry says.
– In the conversation, Foreign Minister Blinken confirmed the iron-clad commitment of the United States to Israel’s security and talked about how the escalation of the situation is not in the interests of any party, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
Earlier on Friday, Israel’s Defense Minister Gallant discussed with the US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin’s with. During the discussion, Gallant stated that it is important to reach an agreement on the release of the hostages in Gaza quickly.
On Friday, Israel announced that it agreed to continue truce talks with Hamas after Egypt, Qatar and the United States, acting as mediators, urged the parties to return to the negotiating table. The negotiations are scheduled to continue from next Thursday in either Cairo or Doha.
Tensions in the Middle East have been at risk of escalating into a wider war after the leader of the Palestinian extremist organization Hamas Ismail Haniyya and the military leader of the extremist organization Hezbollah Fuad Shukr was killed recently. The killings have created a threat of retaliation against Israel.
Source: Reuters