U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to Israel this week as part of his sixth urgent mission to the Middle East since Israel's war with Hamas began in October.
FILE - Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a news conference at the State Department, March 13, 2024, in Washington. Blinken will travel to Israel this week as part of his sixth urgent mission to the Middle East since Israel's war with Hamas began in October. The previously unannounced stop comes as relations between the two countries have soured dramatically in recent weeks. – U.S.
Tensions between the U.S. and Israel over the prosecution of the Gaza war have been mounting for months over rising civilian casualties. And they have intensified as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly said he will ignore President Joe Biden's warnings not to start a large-scale ground operation in the southern city of Rafah without credible plans to protect innocent Palestinians who have sought refuge there.
In his talks in Jeddah, Cairo and Tel Aviv, Blinken is expected to focus on attempts to negotiate a cease-fire and hostage release deal, increase humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza by land, air and sea and plan for the territory's post-conflict future. In the Red Sea city of Jeddah, Blinken was to meet with Saudi Arabia's de facto leader, Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman and the Saudi foreign minister. The prospect of normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel is seen as a potential point of leverage in pushing the Israelis on easing civilian suffering in Gaza.
This group has been charged with exploring ways to revamp, reform and revitalize the Palestinian Authority for a possible governance role in Gaza once the war is over. The West Bank-based Palestinian Authority has committed to reforms and replaced some of its top leadership.
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