[Blinken spoke with Israeli Defense Minister on the phone, saying that an escalation of the situation "is not in anyone's interest"] U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant on the phone on the 9th, saying that the escalation of tensions in the Middle East "is not in the interests of any party" and reiterated the "urgent need" to reach a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip in Palestine.