U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed efforts to de-escalate tensions between Israel and the Palestinians in talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Monday.

The U.S. official arrived in Cairo on Sunday on a three-day regional tour that coincides with an escalation of violence between Israel and the Palestinians.

Blinken said he wanted to strengthen Washington's strategic partnership with Egypt, a major recipient of U.S. military aid that has helped mediate in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the past.

Blinken's meeting with Sisi also addressed Egypt's human rights conditions and regional issues including attempts to relaunch a political transition in Sudan and to break the deadlock between rival factions in Libya.

(With input from Reuters)