International

U.S. Secretary Blinken initiates diplomatic tour amid escalating Israel-Hamas tensions

In a move to address mounting concerns over the Israel-Hamas conflict, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to embark on a new diplomatic tour in the Middle East, starting with a stage in Israel on Thursday, Agerpres reports.

A U.S. official confirmed the upcoming journey, emphasising the backdrop of escalating fears regarding the war between Israel and Palestinian Hamas, as reported by Agerpres.ro.

Blinken, Washington's top diplomat, is scheduled to depart Thursday evening for a journey encompassing Israel and several other Middle Eastern destinations. Despite being pressed for details on specific dates and stages of the trip, Blinken remained tight-lipped.

This marks Antony Blinken's fifth official visit to Israel since the onset of the conflict on October 7, triggered by Hamas's bloody attack on Israeli territory, and his fourth in the region overall. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, as well as Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, have also visited the region, with President Joe Biden making an early appearance at the conflict's outset, now entering its fourth month in the coming days.

By dispatching the U.S. Secretary of State to the region once again, the United States aims to maintain pressure on Israeli authorities and ensure continued positive relations with Arab allies united against Israel.

The visit comes at a time when fears grow about the conflict in the Gaza Strip between Israel and Hamas expanding throughout the region, particularly following an attack in Iran that claimed 95 lives on Wednesday and the airstrike in Lebanon that eliminated Hamas's second-in-command on Tuesday.

While U.S. officials assert that backstage pressures are effective, with Israel agreeing to allow fuel, restore internet access, and reopen crossings in the Gaza Strip, they do not conceal their frustration. The United States remains Israel's primary ally and military supporter but condemns the extreme positions of some Israeli ministers calling for the return of Jewish settlers to the Gaza Strip after the current war and "encouraging" the Palestinian population to emigrate.

Translation by Iurie Tataru

Ionela Golban

Ionela Golban

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