<p>The United States's Secretary of State Antony Blinken will depart on Monday for a Middle East trip aimed at consolidating the ceasefire that brought 11 days of deadly bombardment between Israel and Hamas to a halt.</p>.<p>"Secretary Blinken will meet with Israeli leaders about our ironclad commitment to Israel's security," US President Joe Biden said in a statement.</p>.<p>"He will continue our administration's efforts to rebuild ties to, and support for, the Palestinian people and leaders, after years of neglect."</p>.<p>Biden, who came under criticism from many within his own Democratic party for not pushing US ally Israel more publicly to call a ceasefire, has touted his administration's "quiet, relentless diplomacy" to bring about a halt in the fighting.</p>.<p>Blinken's trip, in addition to meetings with Israeli and Palestinian leaders, will take him to Cairo and Amman for consultations with officials there.</p>.<p>In a tweet, Blinken said the trip will aim to support "efforts to solidify a ceasefire".</p>.<p>"The United States has engaged in intensive diplomacy to bring an end to the hostilities and reduce tensions," he added.</p>.<p>Israeli strikes on Gaza this month killed 248 Palestinians, including 66 children, and have wounded over 1,900 people, the Gaza health ministry says.</p>.<p>Rockets and other fire from Gaza claimed 12 lives in Israel, including one child and an Arab-Israeli teenager, an Israeli soldier, one Indian, and two Thai nationals, medics say. Some 357 people in Israel have been wounded.</p>
<p>The United States's Secretary of State Antony Blinken will depart on Monday for a Middle East trip aimed at consolidating the ceasefire that brought 11 days of deadly bombardment between Israel and Hamas to a halt.</p>.<p>"Secretary Blinken will meet with Israeli leaders about our ironclad commitment to Israel's security," US President Joe Biden said in a statement.</p>.<p>"He will continue our administration's efforts to rebuild ties to, and support for, the Palestinian people and leaders, after years of neglect."</p>.<p>Biden, who came under criticism from many within his own Democratic party for not pushing US ally Israel more publicly to call a ceasefire, has touted his administration's "quiet, relentless diplomacy" to bring about a halt in the fighting.</p>.<p>Blinken's trip, in addition to meetings with Israeli and Palestinian leaders, will take him to Cairo and Amman for consultations with officials there.</p>.<p>In a tweet, Blinken said the trip will aim to support "efforts to solidify a ceasefire".</p>.<p>"The United States has engaged in intensive diplomacy to bring an end to the hostilities and reduce tensions," he added.</p>.<p>Israeli strikes on Gaza this month killed 248 Palestinians, including 66 children, and have wounded over 1,900 people, the Gaza health ministry says.</p>.<p>Rockets and other fire from Gaza claimed 12 lives in Israel, including one child and an Arab-Israeli teenager, an Israeli soldier, one Indian, and two Thai nationals, medics say. Some 357 people in Israel have been wounded.</p>