U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken held a telephone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday, the U.S. State Department said, as hostilities between Israel and Palestinian militants have escalated to their most intense in years.
In the phone call, Blinken expressed his concerns regarding the "barrage of rocket attacks" on Israel, while reiterating his call on all parties to de-escalate tensions.
He emphasized to Netanyahu the need for both Israelis and Palestinians to live in safety and security.