The first stop of a broader Middle East tour, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrives in Israel on Tuesday to discuss the future of the enclave after Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar’s death and to revive ceasefire talks in Gaza. However, any progress before the impending US election appears elusive.
Since Palestinian Hamas struck southern Israel on October 7, sparking the Gaza war, the top US diplomat has made eleven trips to the area. The current visit coincides with an expanded Israeli military assault against the Iran-aligned Hezbollah militia in Lebanon and the Palestinian enclave.
Blinken’s week-long tour, which will also include stops in Doha and Jordan on Wednesday, coincides with the region’s preparations for Israel’s reaction to Iran’s ballistic missile assault on Israel on October 1.
The reprisal runs the danger of upsetting oil markets and sparking a full-scale conflict between the bitter rivals.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a senior State Department source stated that Blinken will concentrate on talks on how to increase humanitarian relief, plans for the enclave once the fighting stops, and ways to end the war in Gaza.
Blinken and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin wrote to Israeli leaders last week, threatening to cut off US military funding unless they took decisive action to address the deteriorating situation in Gaza.
According to the official, Blinken will focus on “day after” problems, specifically security, governance, and rebuilding, during his discussions with Israel and the Arab world.
It has been believed that having thorough strategies for each of these is necessary before the issue can be resolved in a way that lasts.
According to the person, the secretary of state will also continue Washington’s dialogue with Israel over their anticipated reaction to Iran’s missile launch and will talk with Israel and other nations about how to achieve a diplomatic settlement to the dispute with Hezbollah.
