U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken traveled to the occupied West Bank on Sunday as part of his ongoing efforts to address the Israel-Hamas conflict. He met with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in an attempt to ease civilian suffering in the Gaza Strip and discuss a potential post-conflict scenario. Blinken’s visit came shortly after Israeli warplanes struck a refugee camp in Gaza, resulting in numerous casualties. Although protests erupted against his visit and U.S. support for Israel, Blinken’s meeting with Abbas ended without any public comment, leaving it unclear whether the discussions had been successful.
Palestinian ambassador to the U.K., Husam Zomlot, described the meeting as tense due to existing differences between the two parties. Zomlot emphasized the need for an immediate ceasefire to the Israeli assault on Palestinian civilians, stating that the conflict was not just against Hamas but also affecting the West Bank. He expressed hope that the U.S. could act as a mediator in finding a solution to the ongoing crisis.
Following his meeting with Abbas, Blinken made an unannounced visit to Cyprus, where he met with the President and Foreign Minister. He later traveled to Baghdad for a surprise visit and held talks with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shiaa al-Sudani. In a news conference in Baghdad, Blinken called the meeting productive and emphasized the need to hold accountable those responsible for attacks on U.S. personnel in Iraq.
Blinken reiterated the U.S. commitment to delivering humanitarian assistance and essential services to Gaza during his meeting with Abbas. He expressed the need to prevent Palestinian displacement and discussed efforts to restore stability in the West Bank. Blinken’s visit to Abbas marked the beginning of his third day of an intense Middle East tour.
Throughout his tour, Blinken has expressed firm U.S. support for Israel’s right to defend itself but has also emphasized the importance of adhering to the laws of war, protecting civilians, and increasing humanitarian aid supplies to Gaza. He has urged Israel to implement temporary humanitarian pauses to its military operations, which would enable aid delivery and the safe evacuation of foreign nationals. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected this proposal so far.
While international pressure for an immediate ceasefire continues to mount, Blinken stated that the U.S. is not pushing for one at this time. He argued that a ceasefire would leave Hamas in power, allowing them to regroup and repeat their actions. Instead, he called for temporary humanitarian pauses in fighting as a means of protecting civilians and achieving Israel’s objective of defeating Hamas.
Arab foreign ministers that Blinken met with in Amman also demanded an immediate ceasefire. However, Blinken stated that discussions on Gaza’s post-war future should be postponed until the killing stops, and steady humanitarian aid is restored. Arab states are resistant to playing a larger role in resolving the crisis, placing the responsibility largely on Israel.
Despite the lack of concrete solutions, U.S. officials believe that Arab backing will be crucial in alleviating the worsening conditions in Gaza and forming a new governing authority if Hamas is eradicated. Ideas for Gaza’s future governance, including a revived Palestinian Authority, international organizations, and a potential peacekeeping force, have received little enthusiasm thus far.