US Secretary of State continues tour of the Middle East, 'orienting a new path for Palestinians to rebuild their lives'

This is Secretary of State Antony Blinken's 11th visit to the region since the conflict in Gaza erupted in October 2023, amid increased Israeli attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has begun a week-long trip to Israel and several other Middle Eastern countries. (Source: AP)

According to the US State Department, Secretary of State Blinken began a week-long trip on October 21 to Israel and several other Arab nations, including Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Previously, after Israel killed Hamas military leader Yahya Sinwar, US President Joe Biden announced he would send Blinken to the Middle East. Many believed this move could open up opportunities for ceasefire negotiations that had been stalled for months.

Israeli officials said that, according to the schedule, Foreign Minister Blinken was to meet with the host country's leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog, on October 22.

According to US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller, Blinken will discuss ending the fighting in Gaza, securing the release of hostages, and alleviating the suffering of the Palestinian people. He will also plan for the post-conflict period and "orient a new path for the Palestinian people to rebuild their lives."

Miller also stressed the need to increase humanitarian aid to Gaza, a point raised by Secretary of State Blinken and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in a letter to Israel last week. The letter reminded Israel that the Biden administration might be forced to cut some forms of military funding if humanitarian aid continues to be hampered.

In addition to the conflict in Gaza, Blinken also mentioned the desire to achieve a diplomatic solution to the escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon and other areas.

Spokesperson Miller emphasized: "Mr. Blinken will reaffirm the U.S. commitment to working with partners in the region to de-escalate tensions and bring about lasting stability."

Since the conflict in Gaza erupted on October 7, 2023, Mr. Blinken has made 10 trips to the Middle East seeking a solution to the crisis. While previous trips have not yielded significant results, he has succeeded in increasing aid to Gaza.

From September 2024, the situation became more tense, raising concerns about the conflict spreading throughout the region, especially after Israel launched a ground operation in Lebanon against Hezbollah and killed its leader Hassan Nasrallah in a major airstrike on the outskirts of Beirut.

Furthermore, Iran responded to Israeli attacks on Tehran's proxy forces with multiple ballistic missile launches. The Biden administration warned Israel of its retaliation plans and expressed confidence that its leaders would not attack Iranian nuclear or oil facilities.

However, Prime Minister Netanyahu has repeatedly affirmed that Israel listens to advice from the US but will act in its national interest. Therefore, Israel did not heed Washington's earlier warnings about escalating the conflict.

Meanwhile, according to US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby, President Joe Biden expressed "deep concern" over the leak of classified documents related to Israel's retaliatory attack plans against Iran. Washington is conducting an investigation into the matter.

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