US Secretary of State Antony Blinken departed for Egypt on Tuesday for a visit to the Middle East that notably excludes a stop in Israel. This marks the first time since the October 7 attacks that Blinken has visited the region without including Israel in his itinerary. Typically, Blinken's visits to Israel are aimed at pressing the Israeli government on critical issues related to the ongoing conflict, such as the ceasefire and hostage deal.
However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been resistant to the administration's efforts, leading to doubts about reaching a resolution before President Joe Biden leaves office. The State Department announced that Blinken will meet with Egyptian officials to discuss ongoing efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza, secure the release of hostages, and address the suffering of the Palestinian people.
