US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is scheduled to travel to Egypt and Israel on Monday to advance efforts for a ceasefire in Gaza, aiming to prevent the conflict from spreading to Lebanon.
Amid escalating violence in Gaza and concerns about broader regional implications, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Egypt and Israel on Monday. This visit marks Blinken’s eighth trip to the region since Hamas militants launched an attack on Israel on October 7, igniting the most intense conflict in the Israeli-Palestinian issue in decades.
The top US diplomat’s agenda includes meetings with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Cairo, followed by discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in Israel, according to a State Department announcement. Blinken’s visit will also extend to Jordan and Qatar later this week.
The visit follows US President Joe Biden’s May 31 outline of a three-phase ceasefire plan for Israel, which proposes a permanent cessation of hostilities, the release of hostages and prisoners, and the reconstruction of Gaza.
The initial Hamas assault resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people and the abduction of approximately 250 hostages, as per Israeli reports. In response, Israel’s retaliatory strikes have led to the deaths of over 37,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s health ministry, and have caused widespread devastation in the region.
On Saturday, Israeli forces conducted a raid in Gaza that resulted in the rescue of four hostages held by Hamas since October, during which 274 Palestinians were killed, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
Blinken’s trip comes in the wake of Israeli minister Benny Gantz’s resignation from Prime Minister Netanyahuâs emergency government on Sunday. Gantz’s departure removes the centrist influence in Netanyahu’s predominantly far-right coalition, potentially affecting the dynamics of the Israeli government amid ongoing conflict in Gaza and increasing tensions with Lebanese Hezbollah.
During his visit, Blinken plans to discuss the necessity of a ceasefire that ensures the release of hostages and curbs further conflict escalation. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller stated that Blinken would emphasize the importance of Hamas accepting the proposed ceasefire terms.
Ceasefire negotiations have intensified following Bidenâs proposal, with CIA Director William Burns meeting with senior officials from mediator nations Qatar and Egypt in Doha last week to deliberate on the plan.
Although Biden has frequently indicated that ceasefire agreements were close, the conflict has seen only one short truce in November.
Blinkenâs visit represents a critical diplomatic effort to stabilize the region and prevent the Gaza conflict from expanding further into neighboring countries.
