Blinken on Middle East crisis tour as bloody war roils Gaza

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited the occupied West Bank, where he met with Palestinian Authority President Mahmud Abbas. Blinken expressed concern for the situation in Gaza and urged humanitarian pauses in the fighting. Meanwhile, the death toll in Gaza continued to rise as Israel pursued its campaign to destroy Hamas. The international community has called for an immediate ceasefire, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated that there will be no ceasefire until the hostages are returned.