IDF: No new emergency measures; White House warns of possible 'significant' attack (2024)

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is scheduled to travel to the Middle East on Tuesday amid high tensions in the region, Axios reporter Barak Ravid said on social media on Monday, citing a source. Blinken has stops planned in Qatar, Egypt and Israel, Ravid added.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke Monday Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan about "the importance of Hamas' return to negotiations on August 15 to finalize the framework for achieving an immediate and durable ceasefire in Gaza and securing the release of all hostages," according to a State Department spokesperson.

Blinken expressed gratitude for "Turkey's partnership in securing the freedom of detained U.S. citizens on August 1 and support for the United States-Egypt-Qatar Joint Statement urging to resume Gaza ceasefire talks."

Blinken also spoke with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shiaa al-Sudani today to discuss "ongoing diplomatic efforts to advance stability in the region and the importance of preventing escalation."

The Fitch credit rating agency announced late Monday night that it has lowered the Israeli government's credit rating by one grade, from A plus to A. Fitch is the third rating company to downgrade the Israeli government since the start of the war with Hamas.

According to the company's statement, "the downgrade to A reflects the impact of the continuation of the war in Gaza, heightened geopolitical risks and military operations on multiple fronts.

Explaining why it had declared that the outlook for the Israeli economy was 'Negative,' the agency wrote that, "in our view, the conflict in Gaza could last well into 2025 and there are risks of it broadening to other fronts. In addition to human losses, it could result in significant additional military spending, destruction of infrastructure and more sustained damage to economic activity and investment, leading to a further deterioration of Israel's credit metrics."

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer held a call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Monday, asking him to refrain from attacking Israel and saying that war was not in anyone's interest, the prime minister's office said.

Starmer spoke with Pezeshkian as part of de-escalation efforts to ease tensions in the Middle East. Recent killings of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran and Hezbollah military commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut have drawn threats of retaliation against Israel.

According to Sky News, which first reported the story, the phone call lasted for 30 minutes and took place after the British premier spoke with U.S. President Joe Biden and other European allies earlier on Monday.

Starmer told Pezeshkian he was deeply concerned by the situation in the Middle East and called on all parties to de-escalate to avoid further regional confrontation.

"There was a serious risk of miscalculation and now was the time for calm and careful consideration," 10 Downing Street cited Starmer as saying, adding he underlined his commitment to an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages and increasing humanitarian aid to Gaza.

The focus should be on diplomatic negotiations, Starmer said. The leaders agreed that a constructive dialogue between the two nations was in both countries' interests.

But Starmer told Pezeshkian that a dialogue between the two could only be furthered if Iran ceased its "destabilizing actions", including threats against individuals in Britain and if it stopped aiding Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

According to Palestinian reports, the terrorist who carried out a shooting attack in the West Bank city of Qalqilya is Tarek Ziad Abed al-Rahim, aged 18. According to the reports, al-Rahim was released in a hostage deal between Hamas and Israel in November.

A spokesperson for Hamas' military wing said militants guarding Israeli hostages in Gaza shot and killed a hostage and severely wounded two others.

The IDF spokesperson said it has no information disproving or confirming the incident. "We continue to investigate and verify the credibility of the statement, and will inform the public with every information we get," the army said.