By Janet Ekstract ISTANBUL – U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller in a statement on Tuesday, outlined the secretary of state’s meetings in the Middle East. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will be in the Middle East this week, working on getting an agreement for a deal that would free all the hostages. Blinken met with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in Tel Aviv on Tuesday to discuss avoiding a major regional conflict with Iran and its proxies. Gallant and Blinken focused on how crucial it is to get all the hostages released and to end the conflict in Gaza in such a way that brings lasting peace for both Palestinians and Israelis. Blinken also reiterated how dire the humanitarian situation is there and the urgent necessity to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza. Blinken admitted that Israel needs to do a lot more than it is to get sufficient humanitarian aid into Gaza. Meanwhile, he reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to Israel’s security and reemphasized U.S. support for a diplomatic solution to the conflict across the Blue Line that would fully implement United Nations Security Resolution 1701. On Wednesday, Blinken will be in Saudi Arabia for meetings after concluding his meetings with top Israeli officials including Prime Minister Netanyahu in Israel.
According to media reports, Blinken was scheduled to have meetings in Jordan prior to Saudi Arabia but they were postponed at the last minute. Blinken will meet with top officials in Saudi Arabia and told reporters before departing: “there are two things left to do, get the hostages home and bring the war to an end with an understanding of what will follow.” He also told reporters that the U.S. rejects any reoccupation of Gaza by the Israelis but hasn’t addressed the fact that Netanyahu’s far-right ministers are dead-set against a two-state solution or Palestinians returning to Gaza. It’s common knowledge that Netanyahu has no plans to end the war any time soon since he faces corruption charges and a possible prison term if he stops the war. Despite warnings fron the ICC, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the international community, Netanyahu has refused to end the conflict or even consider a temporary ceasefire just to release the hostages. His far-right ministers vehemently and openly have opposed any type of ceasefire and despite reassurances months ago from Gallant and Yaid Lapir that they would support Netanyahu in a ceasefire-hostage deal, Netanyahu refused. Months of mass protests all across Israel called on Netanyahu to resign and some Israelis have called him a “war criminal”and said he is committing “genocide.” Despite Israel’s protests to the contrary, Israeli forces are relentlessly attacking schools, hospitals, residences and residential buildings – claiming to target Hamas.
