Anthony Blinken. Photo: from open sources
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken is travelling to the Middle East on Monday to promote peace talks to end the war in Gaza, the US State Department said. The trip will take place after the assassination of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, which has escalated the conflict, Reuters reports.
This is Blinken’s eleventh visit to the region since the Hamas group attacked Israel on 7 October 2023, triggering a large-scale war. Israel is currently intensifying its military operations in Gaza and Lebanon, where it is fighting the Iranian-backed Hezbollah group.
According to the State Department, during his trip, Blinken plans to discuss with the leaders of the region the importance of ending the war, possible ways of a peaceful settlement, and a plan for Gaza after the conflict. In particular, attention will be focused on resolving the conflict with Hezbollah and discussing humanitarian aid to the civilian population.
The trip will begin with Israel, but other countries to be visited by the Secretary of State have not yet been specified. “Blinken will emphasise the importance of ending the war in Gaza, releasing all hostages, and alleviating the suffering of the Palestinian people,” the State Department said in a statement.
At the same time, US President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, who is a candidate in the upcoming presidential election on 5 November, and other Western leaders are calling for an end to the long war after Sinwar’s death. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that military operations will continue.
In addition to diplomatic efforts, Blinken will also raise the issue of increasing humanitarian aid – food, medicine and fuel – for the victims in Gaza, where, according to local medical services, there is an acute shortage of resources due to active hostilities.
The war in Gaza has already claimed the lives of more than 42,500 Palestinians, and about 10,000 more may be buried under the rubble, according to medical sources.
