ISTANBUL: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has arrived in Istanbul to meet with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan as part of a weeklong regional visit, local media reported on Friday.
Turkish Foreign Minister and the US Secretary of State are likely to discuss Israeli attacks on Gaza, in their talks scheduled for Saturday in Istanbul. According to the health ministry in Gaza said that 22,600 people mostly women and children have been killed in the besieged territory since the war between Hamas and Israel erupted on October 7.
US Secretary of State Visits Turkey
In a statement, the health ministry said the war now in its 91st day — has killed at least 22,600 Palestinians and injured 57,910 as Israel continues bombardment of cities, towns and refugee camps across the area. The Israeli police also imposed strict restrictions on the entry of worshipers to Al Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem to perform Friday prayers.
An official in the Islamic Waqf (Endowments) Department in Jerusalem told media that only 15,000 people were allowed to perform Friday prayers in the mosque compared to over 50,000 in a regular Friday prayer.
READ ALSO: Gaza Death Toll Surpasses 22,600: Ministry
Blinken and Fidan will also discuss regional issues, and bilateral ties during the meeting. He will also visit Greece, Qatar, Jordan, the UAE, Egypt, Israel, and the West Bank from Jan. 4 to 11, a US State Department spokesperson told reporters on Thursday.
