U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Saturday with the leaders of Turkey and Greece as he starts his Middle East diplomacy tour in hopes of easing tensions in the region and preventing Israel’s war with Hamas from spilling over in the greater area.
In his meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a strong critic of Israel’s military actions in Gaza, Blinken "emphasized the need to contain the conflict, secure the release of hostages, expand humanitarian assistance such as increasing the number of trucks allowed to enter Gaza to deliver food, water, medicine and commercial goods, and reduce civilian casualties," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said.
The U.S. senior diplomat also stressed the need to work toward a peace plan that ensures Israel’s security while promoting the establishment of a Palestinian state.
