"Blinken's Mideast Diplomacy Intensifies Amid Gaza Tensions and Regional Talks"

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is on a diplomatic mission in the Middle East, meeting with Jordan's King Abdullah II and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi in Amman to discuss efforts to prevent the Gaza war from escalating. Blinken emphasized the need for Israel to minimize civilian casualties and increase humanitarian aid to Gaza. Despite calls for a ceasefire from Jordan and other Arab states, Israel has not agreed, leading the U.S. to advocate for temporary "humanitarian pauses." Blinken also visited a World Food Program warehouse in Amman, highlighting the importance of aid delivery to Gaza. The U.S. is pressing Israel to allow more supplies into the region, with the U.N. Security Council calling for an immediate increase in aid deliveries. Blinken's trip includes discussions on building durable peace and addressing the humanitarian crisis, with further visits planned to Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Israel, the West Bank, and Egypt.