US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed his commitment to the establishment of a Palestinian state during an unannounced visit to the West Bank. This visit comes as Hamas claims that Israel struck a refugee camp in Gaza. Continuing his tour of the region, Blinken met with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah on Sunday. Abbas demanded an immediate ceasefire to allow humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, which has been under bombardment by Israel in response to Hamas’s attack on Israeli civilians. Blinken assured that the US is committed to providing aid to Gaza and restoring essential services. Violence has also continued in the West Bank, with 121 Palestinians killed since the war in Gaza began. Blinken suggested that an effective and revitalized Palestinian Authority should ultimately govern Gaza. As Blinken headed to Turkey for talks on Gaza, pro-Palestine protesters clashed with police near a US air base. Demonstrations in support of Palestine have been held worldwide, with calls for a ceasefire and an end to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
