Secretary of State Blinken Heads to Middle East for Seventh Diplomatic Mission

Secretary of State Antony Blinken is embarking on his seventh diplomatic mission to the Middle East since the Israel-Hamas war commenced more than six months ago. The State Department announced that Blinken is set to travel to Saudi Arabia on Monday, following his recent visit to China.

Blinken will attend a World Economic Forum conference and hold discussions with Arab foreign ministers in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. Additionally, an Israeli foreign ministry official has disclosed that Blinken will visit Israel on Tuesday, a stop not previously mentioned in the State Department's announcement about his itinerary.

Blinken’s latest trip to the Middle East comes amidst ongoing conflict, with over 34,000 Palestinians killed and hundreds of thousands displaced since the war’s initiation. The situation in Gaza has worsened, resulting in a humanitarian catastrophe. The initial attack by Hamas against Israel on Oct. 7 led to about 1,200 fatalities and approximately 250 abductions.

Cease-Fire Negotiations

Efforts supported by the U.S. to negotiate a cease-fire in exchange for the release of hostages have faced setbacks. Hamas has stated that it is reviewing a new Israeli proposal for a cease-fire, as Egypt intensifies its mediation efforts to bring an end to the war and prevent a potential Israeli ground offensive in Rafah, a southern city in Gaza.

Since mid-October, Blinken has been shuttling between Israel and its Arab and Muslim neighbors, aiming to enhance aid to civilians in Gaza, contain the conflict within the region, and garner support for the reconstruction and governance plans for postwar Gaza. Amid these efforts, the U.S. has remained vocal in supporting Israel’s right to self-defense. The intensification of Israel’s offensive in Gaza has resulted in increased political pressure in the U.S., leading to pro-Palestinian demonstrations in various universities and subsequent criticisms of alleged antisemitism.

Blinken and other American officials have been working to dissuade Israel from launching a large-scale military operation in Rafah, where a substantial number of Palestinians have sought refuge. While aid shipments into Gaza have risen, they have not reached the level required to avert the impending famine as reported by the United Nations. Additionally, Arab nations have pledged support for the evolving plans for Gaza’s future.

State Department spokesman Matthew Miller emphasized that Blinken will focus on ongoing efforts to secure a cease-fire in Gaza for the release of hostages, highlighting Hamas’ role in obstructing the peace process. Blinken will underline the significance of containing the conflict and discuss endeavors to establish lasting peace and security in the region, including the pathway to an independent Palestinian state with security assurances for Israel.

Despite diplomatic efforts, Israel is making preparations for a potential attack on Rafah. The conflict has escalated further, notably after a suspected Israeli strike on Iran's consulate in Syria, prompting retaliatory measures from Iran, including drone, ballistic, and cruise missile launches. This resulted in an apparent Israeli airstrike near a major air base and a nuclear site in central Iran.