Secretary of State Antony Blinken has arrived in Tel Aviv to consult with partners and discuss efforts to bring all remaining hostages home. Blinken expressed his commitment to work relentlessly until the hostages are reunited with their families. He emphasized the agony faced by families not knowing the fate of their loved ones and acknowledged the unbearable pain they endure.
Discussions were held with the Israeli government regarding Hamas's response to the proposal put forth by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt. While there were some non-starters in Hamas's response, Blinken believes there is still potential for an agreement to be reached and vowed to continue working towards that goal.
Extensive discussions also took place with the Israeli Prime Minister and national security leaders on the military campaign against Hamas and the objective of preventing future incidents like October 7th. Blinken reiterated the importance of achieving peace and security in the region and mentioned ongoing diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions on Israel's northern border with Lebanon.
Civilian protection and humanitarian aid for Palestinian civilians in Gaza were also discussed. The dire conditions faced by displaced individuals and the acute hunger experienced by tens of thousands were highlighted. Efforts by Israel to strengthen civilian protection and provide aid were acknowledged, including the opening of corridors and the establishment of deconfliction mechanisms for humanitarian sites. The United States has been a significant contributor of humanitarian aid to the Palestinians, including the funding of 90,000 metric tons of flour, enough to feed 1.4 million people for the next five months.
However, Blinken expressed concern over the high toll military operations have taken on innocent civilians and urged Israel to ensure the delivery of life-saving assistance is not hindered or attacked. He also urged Israel to do more to help civilians, acknowledging the challenges faced when dealing with an enemy that cynically embeds itself among civilians and uses them as shields.
Blinken affirmed Israel's right to confront Hamas and other terrorist organizations but emphasized that the vast majority of people in Gaza had no connection to the attacks of October 7th. He urged Israel and all parties involved to remember the common humanity shared by both Israelis and Palestinians.
Blinken also discussed the pursuit of a diplomatic path to achieve lasting peace and security in the region. He mentioned the importance of Israel having normal relations with key countries, including Saudi Arabia, and the need for a concrete, time-bound, and irreversible path to a Palestinian state living side-by-side with Israel in peace and security.
Lastly, concerns were raised about actions and rhetoric, both from Iran and its proxies and from government officials, that contribute to escalating tensions and strain Israel's security. The Secretary of State emphasized the need for all actors in the region to support the pursuit of peace.
Overall, Blinken's visit to Israel focused on the joint efforts to bring hostages home, discussions with the Israeli government on Hamas's response, the military campaign against Hamas, humanitarian aid to Gaza, the pursuit of a diplomatic path to peace, and urging all actors to work towards de-escalation and mutual security.
