Blinken to push ceasefire proposal in 8th urgent Mideast trip since Gaza war erupted

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to return to the Middle East next week, aiming to make progress on President Joe Biden’s cease-fire proposal. This marks Blinken’s eighth diplomatic mission to the region since the Israel-Hamas conflict began in October, the State Department announced on Friday.

Currently in France with President Biden for the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion, Blinken will travel from Paris to Cairo on Monday. There, he will meet with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and other officials. His itinerary also includes stops in Israel, Jordan, and Qatar, before joining Biden in Italy for the Group of Seven summit.

During his meetings, Blinken will emphasize the importance of Hamas accepting the cease-fire proposal, which closely mirrors one Hamas endorsed last month. He will outline how the proposal could alleviate suffering in Gaza, enable a surge in humanitarian aid, and allow Palestinians to return to their neighborhoods. Additionally, it could stabilize the northern border of Israel, allowing displaced families on both sides to return home.

In Israel, Blinken will meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other officials. In Jordan, he will participate in an emergency international conference focused on aid to Gaza. In Qatar, he will engage with officials mediating the cease-fire deal.

This diplomatic push comes as the Biden administration works to persuade Hamas to agree to a three-phase cease-fire proposal. This plan includes the release of hostages held by Hamas and potentially paves the way for an end to the conflict and reconstruction in Gaza.

Despite Blinken’s frequent visits to the region since the conflict began, the war has persisted, with over 36,000 Palestinians killed in the past eight months of Israeli bombardments and ground offensives in Gaza, according to the Health Ministry. The conflict has severely restricted the flow of food, medicine, and other supplies to Palestinians, with over a million people in Gaza facing extreme hunger by mid-July, according to UN agencies.

As the humanitarian crisis worsens, Israel faces increasing international criticism. Recent Israeli airstrikes in Gaza have reportedly killed dozens of civilians, including at least 18 people on Friday and 33 on Thursday at a UN-run school sheltering displaced Palestinian families.

Since mid-October, Blinken has been working to increase aid to Gaza, prevent regional escalation, and support plans for postwar reconstruction and governance. Despite the vocal backing of Israel’s right to self-defense, the ongoing offensive has intensified political pressure in the U.S., leading to pro-Palestinian protests and counter-reactions over perceived antisemitism.