U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will visit Egypt on Monday and hold talks with high ranking officials in Cairo regarding the situation in Gaza, the State Department said in an official statement.
At least 60 Palestinians and 13 Israeli soldiers were killed on Sunday during an Israeli raid in Gaza, bringing the death toll since Israel launched its attacks to 447 Palestinians, mostly civilians.
At least 2600 Palestinians have been injured since July 8.
"The United States – and our international partners– are deeply concerned about the risk of further escalation, and the loss of more innocent life," State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said in a statement.
"Kerry is working to support Egypt's ceasefire initiative in order to end this situation."
Egypt has launched an initiative calling for an immediate ceasefire in the Palestinian Gaza Strip. It was accepted by Israel but rejected by the Palestinian Hamas group.
This will be Kerry's second visit to Egypt since President Abdel fattah al-Sisi, the former army chief, was inaugurated president.
Kerry, the highest-ranking U.S. official to visit Egypt, was in Cairo by the end of June
