The U.S. Department of State has announced that Secretary of State Antony Blinken will depart on Thursday to begin a tour encompassing five Arab countries, as well as the West Bank, Turkey, and Greece, in addition to his previously announced stop in Israel.
State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller informed that during the tour, Blinken will discuss a variety of issues, including "immediate actions to significantly increase humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip."
Miller also mentioned that the Secretary would address "preventing the expansion of the conflict" following the assassination of Hamas leader Salah al-Arouri by an Israeli strike in Lebanon, and the escalation of Houthi operations against Israeli ships, or those headed to Israel in the Red Sea.
Miller emphasized that the Secretary "will discuss specific steps that the parties can take, including how they can use their influence with others in the region to prevent escalation."
He continued, stating that "the spread of the conflict beyond Gaza benefits no one: not Israel, not the region, and not the world." He explained that Blinken's itinerary includes visits to Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
Secretary Blinken himself, writing on Platform X, conveyed that during the visit he will continue to advocate for the protection of civilian lives in Gaza and "will intensify efforts with partners to secure the release of hostages and ensure the continuity of aid delivery to Gaza."
This tour marks Blinken's fourth visit to the region since the October 7, 2023, attack launched by the Palestinian resistance, led by the Al-Qassam Brigades—the military wing of Hamas—against settlements and military locations in the Gaza envelope, which was followed by the ongoing Israeli aggression against the enclave.
During his last visit to Israel, a day before the end of a temporary humanitarian truce on November 30, Blinken discussed with Israeli leaders the prospects of extending humanitarian truces in the besieged sector. However, he departed just moments before the bombing resumed.
It is noteworthy that Blinken, along with U.S. President Joe Biden and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, attended war council meetings in Tel Aviv during their visit to Israel. The American visits to the region come within the framework of supporting Israel, discussing prisoner exchange deals, and reducing escalation in the area, according to their stated objectives.
