Blinken to visit Israel this week amid ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict

By Iclal Turan

WASHINGTON (AA) - US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to Israel this week to meet senior Israeli leaders, according to the State Department on Tuesday.

“It will be a message of solidarity and support,” spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters at a daily press briefing.

Miller said Blinken will engage Israeli partners directly about the situation on the ground, and discuss "how we can continue to best support them in their fight."

The trip is the first by the top US diplomat after Saturday's attack from Hamas in the Gaza Strip on southern Israeli towns.

The situation escalated since then as Israel retaliated with massive airstrikes in Gaza and placed the enclave under total blockade.

More than 1,900 people have so far been killed in the violence, including at least 900 Palestinians and 1,000 Israelis, according to authorities.

Israel has also cut water and electricity supplies to Gaza, worsening the blockaded enclave’s already dire humanitarian situation.

Home to nearly 2.2 million people, the Gaza Strip has already been reeling under a crippling Israeli siege since 2007.