ANKARA, Nov 6 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken concluded his four-day trip to the Middle East without significant breakthroughs on achieving the humanitarian pauses that the United States is seeking in order to provide more aid to Gaza. The trip aimed to establish calm and secure safe passage for the hostages Hamas militants kidnapped during the Israeli bombardment of the enclave.

Blinken's second tour to the region since the escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict began on Oct. 7 saw little progress in obtaining a ceasefire. Despite growing international calls for a cessation of hostilities, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected Blinken's request, stating that Israel's military operations would continue until a deal is reached on the hostages.

While acknowledging the need for more humanitarian assistance in Gaza and continued efforts to minimize civilian casualties, Blinken admitted the lack of a breakthrough and described the situation as a work in progress. Washington is dedicated to preventing a wider regional conflict and has increased diplomacy with countries throughout the region who have expressed anger towards Israel's bombardment of Gaza.

During his visit to Turkey, Blinken met with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. The two diplomats engaged in discussions regarding efforts to increase aid to Gaza, the protection of civilians, and the prevention of the conflict from spreading. The meeting lasted approximately two and a half hours, and no talks were held between Blinken and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, who has criticized the United States for its perceived support of Israel.

Turkey, a NATO member, has strongly condemned Israel and escalated its criticism as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza intensifies. The country also hosts members of Hamas, which is considered a terrorist organization by certain Western countries but not by Ankara.

Protests took place outside the Turkish foreign ministry building during Blinken's meeting with Fidan, with demonstrators expressing their disapproval of U.S. support for Israel. One activist accused Blinken of providing unconditional support for what they referred to as Israel's "genocide."

According to health officials in Gaza, the death toll in the ongoing conflict has reached 10,022 Palestinians.

Prior to Blinken's arrival, pro-Palestinian crowds attempted to storm a Turkish air base housing U.S. troops in southern Turkey.

During the meeting, Fidan urged the immediate declaration of a ceasefire in Gaza and stressed the importance of preventing Israeli attacks on civilians and displacement of people.

In response, Blinken reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to boosting aid in Gaza and the liberation of the hostages. He also emphasized the role that other regional countries can play in securing their release.

"We are working very aggressively on getting more humanitarian assistance in Gaza. And we have very concrete ways in doing that. And I think we'll see in the days ahead that assistance can expand in significant ways," Blinken stated.

Despite limited progress, the United States remains engaged in diplomatic efforts to address the ongoing crisis and provide much-needed humanitarian support to Gaza. The situation continues to evolve, with hopes that future initiatives could lead to improved prospects for peace and stability in the region.