U.S. Secretary of State Blinken is scheduled to meet with the Prime Minister of Israel

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to Israel is primarily focused on addressing the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Scheduled to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other key figures, including Benny Gantz from the opposition, Blinken’s visit is part of a broader effort to manage the escalating situation. This comes amid a new phase of the Israeli military’s campaign in Gaza, now concentrating on more precise operations in central and southern parts of the territory.

Blinken’s trip, marking his fourth emergency visit to the Middle East since the war’s onset, aims to prevent the conflict from evolving into a full-scale regional war. The situation is already tense due to repeated strikes in Lebanon and Syria targeting members of Hamas and Hezbollah, attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq, and the activities of Yemeni rebels aligned with Hamas in the Red Sea.

The United Nations reports significant displacement of Gaza’s population due to the war, with the World Health Organization highlighting the risk of famine and disease. Humanitarian aid to Gaza is severely limited, prompting Israeli rights group B’Tselem to express concern over widespread hunger in the region as a direct result of Israel’s policies. Similarly, the U.S.-based Council on American-Islamic Relations criticized the U.S. government’s support of these policies.

In his meetings, Blinken is expected to discuss Israel’s adherence to international humanitarian law and propose immediate measures to enhance aid delivery to Gaza.