Blinken Returns to Middle East to Urge Conclusion of Israel-Hamas Ceasefire

TEL AVIV, Israel — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has embarked on his ninth diplomatic tour in the Middle East since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict. His mission aims to advance negotiations for a potential ceasefire agreement.

Blinken landed in Israel on Sunday to engage in discussions with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and President Isaac Herzog on Monday. He is scheduled to continue his journey to Egypt for meetings with local officials, and he may make stops in at least one other country before returning to the United States, as confirmed by the State Department.

A senior official accompanying Blinken emphasized that his visit comes at a “critical time” in the ceasefire negotiations. The Secretary of State is expected to urge all involved parties to expedite the process in order to alleviate the suffering of civilians in Gaza and reduce the risk of further regional destabilization. This official requested anonymity in order to discuss Blinken’s itinerary.

Recent reports from the three countries mediating the ceasefire — Egypt, Qatar, and the United States — indicate progress towards a potential agreement. The proposed plan would see Israel halt most of its military actions in Gaza and agree to release several Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the release of hostages held by Hamas.

U.S. officials have put forward proposals aimed at resolving the outstanding issues between Israeli and Hamas positions. Formal responses to these U.S. proposals are anticipated this week, which may result in a ceasefire announcement, unless talks falter as they have in previous negotiations over the course of the ten-month war.

President Joe Biden expressed a degree of optimism regarding the negotiations, stating last Friday that “we are closer than we’ve ever been” to reaching an agreement. Israel has shown a positive response to the proposed bridging ideas, whereas Hamas has not yet indicated its stance.

The urgency of concluding a ceasefire is underscored by the stark realities on the ground. According to the Palestinian health ministry, the death toll in Gaza has exceeded 40,000 since the conflict began, though the figures do not specify between civilian and militant casualties. The conflict erupted after a series of surprise attacks by Hamas on Israel on October 7, resulting in the deaths of around 1,200 people, predominantly civilians.

Concerns about escalating violence in the wider region have fluctuated throughout the conflict. Recently, these concerns have heightened due to threats of retaliation from Iran and its allied forces in response to the killings of senior Hezbollah commanders in Lebanon and the head of Hamas’s political wing in Iran.