‘Time is of the essence’ as Blinken’s Middle East trip fails to secure ceasefire

US secretary of state Antony Blinken (Kevin Mohatt/Pool Photo via AP)

Antony Blinken has ended his ninth visit to the Middle East since the war in Gaza began without securing a ceasefire deal.

The US secretary of state warned on Tuesday that “time is of the essence” even as Hamas and Israel signalled that challenges remain.