U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to meet with Israeli leaders Tuesday as he makes a push to revive stalled Gaza cease-fire talks, enable greater humanitarian access to Gaza, and de-escalate the war between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Making his 11th visit to the region since the conflict in Gaza erupted in October 2023, Blinken’s schedule Tuesday includes talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
Months of negotiations brokered by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar failed to secure a halt in the fighting in Gaza and the release of hostages held by Hamas.
A senior State Department official told reporters ahead of Blinken’s visit to the region that prospects for quickly reviving those talks are uncertain, particularly after Israel kills Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar last week.
Blinken is also expected to make several other stops in the region, including a visit Wednesday to Jordan.
The State Department official said that without a cease-fire, discussions with Arab leaders would include trying to refine proposals for governing Gaza once the conflict ends.
The official said the U.S. side has elements of a post-conflict plan it was ready to discuss directly with the Israelis as well.
The State Department on Monday highlighted the worsening humanitarian situation in northern Gaza.
U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein was in Beirut on Monday for talks aimed at trying to bring a resolution to the conflict along the Israel-Lebanon border.
Hochstein told reporters he had a “constructive” meeting with Nabih Berri, the speaker of Lebanon’s parliament, and that while in Lebanon he would speak with members of the government, the military, and anyone else who is willing to work on putting the country “on a new course of strength, security, stability and ultimately, economic prosperity.”
