Blinken speaks to European diplomats, stresses commitment to a Palestinian state

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stressed the Biden administration’s commitment to the establishment of a Palestinian state during his joint call with French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron.

The talking point has been used in overdrive since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war, as the US has viewed Hamas’s potential eradication in Gaza as an opportunity to reunite the Strip and the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority in what could pave a path toward a two-state solution.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the rest of the Israeli government are very much not on board with the idea, but are increasingly reliant on support from the US, especially as it seeks to prevent the opening of a second front with Lebanon.

During the joint call with his British, French and German counterparts, Blinken “stressed the importance of urgently addressing humanitarian needs in Gaza, the imperative of minimizing civilian casualties, and the need to prevent the conflict’s further escalation,” his office says.

He “also condemned attacks by the Houthis on commercial vessels operating in the Red Sea and urged cooperation among all partners to uphold maritime security.”