US Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged officials of Israel and Palestine officials Tuesday to “end the cycle of violence” following a recent spike in tensions between the two sides.

Blinken emphasized “the critical importance of Israelis and Palestinians working together to end the cycle of violence in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza by exercising restraint and abstaining from actions that exacerbate tensions” in separate calls with Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas and Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, the State Department said.