Blinken, U.S. Secretary of State, to Visit Middle East Within Days

Tony Blinken, U.S. Secretary of State
Photo by AP Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Byung-hee] U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is planning to visit the Middle East soon, according to major foreign media reports on the 20th (local time).

The U.S. State Department revealed Blinken's plan to visit the Middle East after Secretary Blinken and Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi spoke on the phone that day.

According to the State Department, Secretary Blinken plans to visit the Middle East within a few days to discuss cooperation measures and reconstruction efforts for building a better future for Israel and Palestine. The specific dates of the visit have not been disclosed.

The State Department stated that during the call with Minister Ashkenazi, Secretary Blinken welcomed the ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Palestinian armed group Hamas. The State Department also explained that the two ministers expressed gratitude for Egypt's mediation of the ceasefire, and Secretary Blinken emphasized that he would continue to engage with Egypt and regional stakeholders.

Israel and Hamas, which had been engaged in ten days of bloody conflict since the 10th, suddenly agreed to a ceasefire on this day.

U.S. President Joe Biden also welcomed the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas immediately after the ceasefire agreement was reported and announced that the U.S. would provide humanitarian aid.

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