Blinken Arrives In Israel Amid US Push To Curb Escalation Of Gaza War

Blinken's goal is to curb the escalation of the Gaza conflict and prevent it from evolving into a wider regional crisis.

United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken has arrived in Israel to meet with Israeli leaders who have shown resistance to pressure from Washington regarding their handling of the conflict with Hamas. Blinken's goal is to curb the escalation of the Gaza conflict and prevent it from evolving into a wider regional crisis.

This meeting coincides with the Israeli military's announcement to sustain its battle against Hamas throughout the year. Blinken landed in Tel Aviv late on Monday, initiating discussions to update Israeli officials on the outcomes of his two-day talks with Arab leaders. He had flown in from the Saudi oasis town of AlUla, where he held discussions with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as part of his broader Middle East tour, aiming to establish a consensus on the future of Gaza.

During his visit, Blinken announced that key Arab states and Turkey had reached an agreement to initiate planning for the reconstruction and governance of Gaza once Israel concludes its military campaign against Hamas. These diplomatic efforts are crucial in navigating the complex dynamics surrounding the conflict and ensuring a coordinated approach toward the post-war scenario in the region.

The secretary of state highlighted that Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Turkey had agreed to work together and coordinate efforts to help stabilise and recover Gaza. Their goal is to chart a political path forward for the Palestinians and work toward long-term peace, security, and stability in the entire region.

Blinken expressed his intention to press Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government "on the absolute imperative to do more to protect civilians and to ensure that humanitarian assistance reaches those who need it."

He mentioned that the Saudis and other Arab leaders are still interested in pursuing normalisation of relations with Israel but only based onIsrael an enduring Israeli-Palestinian political settlement. Blinken emphasised that the region's interest in normalisation is clear, contingent upon the end of the conflict in Gaza and the establishment of a practical pathway to a Palestinian state.

The ongoing Israeli offensive has resulted in the death of more than 23,000 Palestinians, widespread destruction in the coastal enclave, and displacement of most of the population of 2.3 million, leading to a worsening humanitarian crisis, according to Reuters.

In a recent development, Israel reportedly targeted and killed a senior commander of Hezbollah, a key ally of Hamas, in southern Lebanon on Monday. Additionally, Israel is conducting a series of lethal attacks in Syria, focusing on cargo trucks, infrastructure, and individuals linked to Iran's supply route of weapons to its allied groups in the region, as reported by Reuters.