Blinken to visit Israel Thursday amid ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict

ADDS BLINKEN'S STATEMENT

By Iclal Turan

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

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

"Our expectation is that we will leave tomorrow and arrive in Israel on Thursday," he added.

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."

"Tomorrow (Wednesday), I will leave for Israel to engage with our Israeli partners directly about the situation on the ground and to discuss ways we can continue to support them in the fight against these terrorist attacks," Blinken wrote on X.

"Our support for Israel remains unwavering," he added.

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

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

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

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

The Gaza Strip, home to nearly 2.2 million residents, has already been reeling under a crippling Israeli siege since 2007.