Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken arrive for a joint news conference in Jerusalem, May 25, 2021. Menahem Kahana/Pool via REUTERS
Jerusalem: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has arrived in Israel at the start of a Middle East tour aimed at shoring up the Gaza cease-fire.
Blinken, who landed at Ben Gurion International Airport early Tuesday, is the highest-ranking U.S. official to visit the region since President Joe Biden assumed office. He was welcomed on the tarmac by Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi and other officials.
Blinken vowed to "rally international support” to aid Gaza. He said Tuesday the U.S. would work to address the "grave humanitarian situation” in the coastal territory.
He spoke after meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
