The heads of several major U.N. bodies made a united call for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza as Israeli strikes intensified nearly one month into the conflict. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed Gaza with Turkey's foreign minister, part of Blinken's efforts to calm regional tensions over the war between Israel and Hamas. Israel has rebuffed mounting international pressure for a ceasefire, saying hostages taken by Hamas militants during their rampage in southern Israel on Oct. 7 should be released first. U.S. CIA Director William Burns was also set to visit Israel on Monday to discuss the war and intelligence with senior officials.
