Blinken to visit Israel amid Israeli-Palestinian conflict

WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to travel to Israel this week for meetings with senior Israeli officials, according to the State Department.

The visit is aimed at conveying a message of solidarity and support, and Blinken will engage directly with Israeli partners to discuss how the US can best assist them in addressing the current situation on the ground. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller spoke to media, “It will be a message of solidarity and support.”

Blinken stated, “I will depart for Israel tomorrow to engage with our Israeli partners directly regarding the ongoing situation and discuss ways to support them in countering these acts of terrorism. Our support for Israel remains steadfast.”

Palestinian UN envoy accuses Israel of ‘genocidal’ campaign against Gaza

This trip comes in the wake of the recent attack by Hamas on southern Israeli communities, which led to a retaliatory response from Israel, including significant airstrikes in Gaza and a complete blockade of the enclave.

The violence has resulted in a significant loss of life, with over 1,900 casualties, including around 900 Palestinians and 1,000 Israelis.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza, already dire due to a longstanding Israeli blockade, has been further exacerbated by Israel’s decision to cut off water and electricity supplies to the territory, home to approximately 2.2 million residents since 2007.