The State Department said Blinken would depart Monday for a weeklong trip to Israel and a number of Arab countries on a visit that also comes as Israel weighs retaliation against Iran for a ballistic missile attack earlier this month.
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U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. File Image- AP
Secretary of State Antony Blinken is heading on his 11th trip to West Asia since the Gaza war began last year. This visit comes at a critical time as Israel intensifies its attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon and plans retaliation against Iran for a ballistic missile strike earlier this month.
Blinken’s week-long trip will include stops in Israel and several Arab countries, including Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. This visit came after tensions sparked in the region after Israel killed Hamas military chief Yahya Sinwar. Some experts believe this move could pave the way for renewed talks on a cease-fire proposal that has been stalled for months.
In Israel on Tuesday, Blinken will meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog, according to Israeli officials.
“Secretary Blinken will discuss the importance of bringing the war in Gaza to an end, securing the release of all hostages, and alleviating the suffering of the Palestinian people,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement.
In the region, Blinken will discuss planning for when the conflict ends and “the need to chart a new path forward that enables Palestinians to rebuild their lives,” Miller added.
He said Blinken also would underscore the need for a dramatic increase in the amount of humanitarian aid reaching Gaza, something that Blinken and Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin made clear in a letter to Israeli officials last week. That letter reminded Israel that the Biden administration could be forced by US law to curtail some forms of military aid should the delivery of humanitarian assistance continue to be hindered.
In addition to the conflict in Gaza, Blinken will also raise the importance the administration places on reaching a diplomatic resolution to the escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon and elsewhere.
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