Blinken heads back to Middle East to push for ceasefire

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected to travel to Israel this week with the aim of “bringing the war in Gaza to an end, securing the release of all hostages, and alleviating the suffering of the Palestinian people”, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said. It will be Mr Blinken’s 11th trip to the region since October 7 last year and his first since Israel killed Hamas leader Yahya Al Sinwar on Thursday. Mr Blinken’s trip comes with President Joe Biden’s envoy Amos Hochstein in Beirut working on a diplomatic solution to Israel’s war with Hezbollah.