US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan discussed on Wednesday their countries' shared commitments to creating conditions for a permanent ceasefire in the besieged Gaza Strip. During a telephone call, Blinken spoke with Fidan about the Secretary's recent trip to the Middle East, Vedant Pantel, Principal Deputy Spokesman for the Department of State, said in a statement. They also discussed "ongoing diplomatic efforts to prevent regional escalation, bringing the hostages home, and ensuring vital humanitarian aid reaches those in need in Gaza," he noted. In addition, they focused on a range of regional issues, according to the statement. Source: Kuwait News Agency