Blinken Visits Israel to Address Gaza, Lebanon Tensions

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken

Just hours before Blinken's arrival, Hezbollah launched rockets at Israeli military bases near Tel Aviv and Haifa, while Israel reported intercepting projectiles from Lebanon. Lebanon’s health ministry confirmed that an Israeli strike near a major hospital in Beirut killed at least 13 and injured 57.

The Israeli military retaliated by targeting multiple Hezbollah sites in Beirut, including a key naval base.

This marks Blinken’s 11th visit to the region since the outbreak of hostilities in Gaza in October 2023. His agenda includes discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. Previous negotiations involving the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar have failed to establish a cease-fire or secure the release of hostages held by Hamas.

Blinken is also expected to travel to Jordan, where discussions may focus on proposals for Gaza's governance post-conflict. A State Department official indicated that the U.S. is prepared to present elements of a post-conflict plan to Israeli officials.

Nimrod Goren, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, expressed skepticism about achieving a diplomatic breakthrough during Blinken's visit, highlighting significant gaps between Israeli and Hamas positions. Israel seeks to diminish Hamas's presence in Gaza, while Hamas aims to maintain its governance.

Philippe Lazzarini, head of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), called for an immediate halt to the fighting to allow evacuations in northern Gaza, where residents are living in dire conditions amid relentless bombardments. He noted the urgent need for food, water, and medical care.

Hezbollah's attacks on Israel follow the October 7 assault by Hamas, which resulted in around 1,200 Israeli deaths and about 250 abductions. In retaliation, Israel's military operations in Gaza have reportedly killed over 42,600 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

The U.S., U.K., European Union, and others classify both Hezbollah and Hamas as terrorist organizations.