Blinken to visit Israel, West Bank and UAE this week

(Patria) - US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Israel, the West Bank and the United Arab Emirates this week, a senior State Department official said, to exert pressure for more humanitarian aid to Gaza and help secure the release of all hostages taken by Hamas, Reuters reports.

“The Secretary will stress the need to maintain an increased flow of humanitarian assistance into Gaza, secure the release of all hostages, and improve the protection of civilians in Gaza,” the senior State Department official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Blinken will discuss what Washington wants to see in Gaza if Israel is able to eliminate Hamas and the need for an independent Palestinian state, and will attend the UN COP28 climate summit in Dubai, the official added.

Blinken is heading to the Middle East after visiting Belgium and North Macedonia. This will be his third trip to the region since October 7, when Hamas militants attacked Israel.

This week he will speak about the future of Gaza and the need for a lasting political solution to the long-standing conflict, after earlier this month outlining Washington's red lines during a visit to Japan on how the enclave could be governed if Hamas is defeated.

Blinken has ruled out an Israeli occupation of Gaza, the permanent displacement of its people, and a reduction in its territory, although a clear plan has yet to emerge in talks with Arab states, Israel and Palestinian leaders.

The US diplomat “will discuss with partners in the region the principles he laid out in Tokyo for the future of Gaza and the need to establish an independent Palestinian state,” the official said.

Blinken landed in Brussels last night, where he will attend a summit of NATO foreign ministers today. He will attend a meeting of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, which is scheduled to be held on Wednesday in Skopje.