US Secretary of State Antony Blinken urges Middle East rivals to agree to a Gaza ceasefire to „break this cycle“ of violence, urging de-escalation as Iran prepares a potential strike on Israel. „Escalation is not in anyone’s interests. It will only lead to more conflict, more violence, more insecurity. It’s also critical that we break this cycle by reaching a ceasefire in Gaza,“ Blinken tells reporters. SOUNDBITE