US Secretary of State Antony Blinken travels to the Middle East on Thursday to intensify diplomatic efforts amid heightened concerns the Israel-Hamas war could become a broader regional conflict.

In addition to a previously announced stop in Israel and the occupied West Bank, Blinken was set to visit Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey, and Greece over the next week, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said. 

"It is in no one's interest — not Israel's, not the region's, not the world's — for this conflict to spread beyond Gaza," Miller said.

Blinken has made multiple trips to the region since the Hamas terror attack on Israel on October 7.

"We don't expect every conversation on this trip to be easy," Miller said. "There are obviously tough issues facing the region and difficult choices ahead."

Miller added that Blinken would focus on expanding humanitarian aid to Gaza, urging Israel to minimize civilian Palestinian casualties, the release of hostages held by Hamas and the importance of planning for the administration of a post-war Gaza.