US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Saudi Arabia on Monday for another Middle East tour, hoping to secure a new truce in the Israel-Hamas war as Gaza saw no let-up in fighting.
On his fifth trip to the region since Hamas’s October 7 attack, Secretary Blinken landed in Riyadh and was later expected to visit Israel, Egypt and Qatar.
Over the weekend, Israel pressed further south towards the densely-crowded border city, warning that its ground forces could advance on Rafah as part of the campaign to eradicate Hamas.
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On Monday morning, sources told AFP they could hear artillery shelling in the areas of eastern Rafah and Khan Yunis, where Israel believes high-ranking Hamas officials are hiding.
At least 128 people, mostly women and children, were killed in Israeli strikes overnight to Monday, according to the health ministry in the area.
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