In a significant diplomatic move, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Tel Aviv on Thursday, commencing a Middle East tour aimed at reaffirming Washington’s support for Israel in the wake of attacks by Palestinian Hamas militants and working to de-escalate the conflict’s escalation.
Blinken’s multi-faceted agenda includes efforts to secure the release of hostages abducted by Hamas, including several American citizens. He also seeks to facilitate discussions with Israeli and Egyptian officials concerning the safe evacuation of Gaza civilians, in anticipation of a potential Israeli ground invasion.
Following his visit to Israel, Blinken is scheduled to travel to Jordan, where he will engage in discussions with King Abdullah and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
The timing of Blinken’s mission is critical, as Israel has initiated one of the most intense bombing campaigns in its 75-year conflict with the Palestinians. Israel has committed to dismantling the Hamas regime in Gaza in response to recent attacks, imposing a blockade to halt the flow of food and fuel to the 2.3 million people living in the territory.
A senior State Department official, who spoke anonymously to reporters, disclosed that Washington is actively working on establishing safe passage for civilians in Gaza, including the Palestinian American community. Approximately 500 to 600 Palestinian Americans reside in Gaza, with some expressing a desire to leave. U.S. officials are collaborating with the Israeli and Egyptian governments to facilitate this effort.
Another critical objective of Blinken’s mission is to convey a message of deterrence to Iran and Iran-backed groups, urging them to refrain from involvement in the ongoing conflict. The State Department official emphasized, “We’re very intent on demonstrating through this visit and through the onward visits that we’re committed to keeping other parties out of this conflict.”
In a related development, U.S. President Joe Biden, addressing Jewish community leaders in Washington the day before, highlighted the deployment of U.S. warships and aircraft near Israel as a signal to Iran. Iran supports both Hamas and Lebanon’s Hezbollah, and President Biden underscored, “We made it clear to the Iranians: Be careful.”
Secretary Blinken’s diplomatic efforts in the region hold significant implications for de-escalating the Gaza crisis and ensuring the safety of civilians, while simultaneously sending a clear message to external actors to avoid involvement in the ongoing conflict.
