US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in the Middle East on his fourth trip since the Israel-Hamas conflict erupted on October 7. His schedule includes travel to Turkey, Greece, Jordan, Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Israel, the West Bank and Egypt from January 4-11.
Throughout his trip, Blinken has been underscoring the importance of protecting civilians; securing the release of all remaining hostages, increased, sustained delivery of relief supplies; and ensuring Palestinians are not forcibly displaced from the territory.
In a statement before the trip’s commencement, the US Department of State also noted the diplomat is set to discuss urgent mechanisms to stem violence and reduce regional tensions, including deterring Houthi attacks in the Red Sea and avoiding escalation in Lebanon.
US’s focus on preventing Gaza conflict from spreading
The Secretary will reaffirm the US commitment to working with partners to set the conditions necessary for peace in the region, including comprehensive, tangible steps towards the realisation of a future Palestinian state alongside the State of Israel, the statement added.
Blinken and Emirati and Saudi officials held notable discussions on Monday, subsequently heading to Israel. He and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed discussed efforts to prevent the conflict in the region from expanding.
The State Department said during talks in the Emirates, the top diplomat “… stressed continued US commitment to securing lasting regional peace that ensures Israel’s security and advances the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.”
New plan for next stage of Israel’s operations in Gaza
Meanwhile, in Saudi Arabia, Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman received Blinken in AlUla on Monday. Their discussions touched on the importance of urgently addressing humanitarian needs in Gaza and preventing further spread of the conflict.
Previously, in meetings on Sunday in Jordan and Qatar, the US Secretary of State had also discussed the need for Israel to curb civilian casualties during the conflict in Gaza and significantly increase the amount of relief supplies reaching famished Palestinians.
On Thursday, Israel’s Defence Minister Yoav Gallant outlined the country’s strategies for the next stage of its military operations in the enclave. The new plan involves a more targeted strategy in northern Gaza and a continued pursuit of Hamas leaders in the south.
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