U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken testifies before U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on March 10, 2021.(Photo: Xinhua)

 
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will head to the Middle East to consolidate the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, U.S. State Department said on Monday.

Blinken will travel to Jerusalem, Ramallah, Cairo, and Amman from May 24 to 27 to meet with leaders of Israel, Palestine, Egypt, and Jordan, according to a State Department statement.

Blinken and regional leaders will discuss essential follow-up efforts to consolidate the ceasefire and reduce risks of further conflict over the coming months, it added.

An Egyptian-brokered ceasefire agreement came into effect early on Friday at 2:00 a.m. Palestinian time between Israel and Hamas.

The 11-day clashes, the worst since 2014, have left at least 240 Palestinians killed and 1,910 others injured, while 12 Israelis have been killed and 300 others wounded.