Blinken spoke to Israeli Min Gantz on accelerating Aad to Gaza – US State Dept

 US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken spoke with Israeli War Cabinet Minister Benjamin Gantz about accelerating humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip, confronting Israeli settlers’ violence and de-escalating the situation in the region, the US State Department said.“Secretary Blinken and Minister Gantz discussed efforts to augment and accelerate the transit of critical humanitarian assistance into Gaza. The Secretary and the Minister also discussed ongoing efforts to prevent the conflict from widening and to secure the release of hostages held in Gaza, including US citizens. Secretary Blinken stressed the urgent need for affirmative steps to de-escalate tensions in the West Bank, including by confronting rising levels of settler extremist violence,” the State Department said in a press release on Thursday.