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Monday, October 21, 2024
Blinken to kick off Mideast trip with Israel visit for talks on Gaza and Lebanon, State Dept. says
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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will depart for the Middle East today, the State Department says, as Washington is pushing to kickstart ceasefire negotiations to end the Gaza war following the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.
The top US diplomat’s latest trip to the region, his eleventh since the Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel by the Palestinian terror group Hamas that triggered the Gaza war, comes even as Israel has intensified its military campaign in Gaza and Lebanon against Iran-aligned terror group Hezbollah.
Blinken will discuss with regional leaders the importance of ending the Gaza war, ways to chart a post-conflict plan for the Palestinian enclave, as well as how to reach a diplomatic solution to the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, the US State Department says in a statement.
The top diplomat’s trip will start with Israel, the State Department said, but did not provide the other exact destinations.
“Throughout the region, Secretary Blinken will discuss the importance of bringing the war in Gaza to an end, securing the release of all hostages, and alleviating the suffering of the Palestinian people,” the State Department says in a statement.
“He will continue discussions on post-conflict period planning and emphasize the need to chart a new path forward that enables Palestinians to rebuild their lives,” it says.
Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.
The Times of Israel Community.