Blinken returns to Mideast as Israel politics scramble push for truce

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was heading back to the Middle East on Monday to push a ceasefire plan. The top US diplomat, paying his eighth visit to the region since war broke out, was set to start the trip in Egypt and head later Monday to Israel.

He is scheduled to hold closed-door talks first in Cairo with President of Egypt Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and later in Jerusalem with Israeli Prime Minister.