On October 21, the U.S. State Department announced that Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to visit Israel and several other Middle Eastern countries from October 21 to 25. This marks Blinken’s 11th trip to the Middle East since October of last year.
In a statement, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller emphasized that the purpose of Blinken’s visit is to discuss the importance of ending the war in Gaza, ensuring the release of all hostages, and alleviating the suffering of the Palestinian people.
The statement also highlighted that Blinken will focus on providing humanitarian aid to Gaza, ensuring the delivery of food, medicine, and other essentials to the region.
Additionally, Blinken plans to engage in discussions with multiple nations regarding the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, seeking diplomatic solutions to address the tensions. He will reaffirm the U.S. commitment to collaborating with regional partners to ease tensions and achieve long-term stability.
According to Israeli sources, Blinken is scheduled to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog during his visit.
The Associated Press reported that, apart from Israel, Blinken’s itinerary includes stops in Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.
On October 17, the Israel Defense Forces and the Shin Bet security agency released a joint statement confirming the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar during military action in Gaza. Hamas has since acknowledged this development.
