News - Israel begins mass shelling of Gaza amid Blinken visit

Israel has carried out massive shelling of Hamas targets in Gaza, the Israel Defense Forces said, without elaborating. At the same time, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is traveling to the region to meet with the leaders of both sides of the conflict. At around 4:30am Thursday, the Israeli military said it was carrying out a large-scale strike on Hamas-owned facilities in Gaza. Witnesses said Israeli aircraft heavily bombed Gaza City.  Gaza authorities also reported an airstrike on Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza.  The death toll in Gaza has reached 1,200, and about 5,600 have been injured, Palestinian media reported earlier, citing the Palestinian ministry of health. US President Joe Biden has sent his top diplomat to the Middle East to show Washington's continued support for Israel, secure the release of hostages, including an American, and prevent a broader war. Blinken will arrive on Thursday and will also visit Jordan. But he will not travel to the Israeli-occupied West Bank where he usually meets with President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian authority. Blinken and Abbas will meet on Friday, Hussein al-Sheikh, Secretary General of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, wrote on X, but without elaborating.