Blinken Returns To Israel To Foster Anti-Hamas Cooperation

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken landed in Israel on Monday after conducting diplomatic talks with six Arab nations. His visit aimed to bolster coordination against Hamas while addressing the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza. Blinken's latest trip came just four days after his brief visit to Tel Aviv, during which he expressed solidarity with Israel. Upon his return, he immediately engaged in discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his office in Jerusalem. Subsequently, Blinken was scheduled to confer with Netanyahu's security cabinet. Speaking to reporters in Cairo on Sunday, Blinken stated, "I want an opportunity to share everything that I've heard—that I've learned—over the last few days visiting with our other partners and to talk about the way forward with our Israeli allies and friends." This visit coincided with reports suggesting that President Joe Biden was contemplating an invitation to visit Israel, emphasizing the unwavering solidarity between the two nations. Blinken's agenda included a meeting with Israel's primary opposition leader, Yair Lapid, in Tel Aviv. Lapid has criticized Netanyahu for his response to the brutal Hamas attack on October 7 and refused to join an emergency government. Israel declared a state of war against Hamas after the militant group's fighters breached the heavily fortified border, resulting in the deaths of more than 1,400 people, predominantly civilians. In response, Israel launched a relentless bombing campaign, resulting in approximately 2,750 casualties, with the majority being ordinary Palestinians residing in the blockaded and impoverished Gaza Strip. During his diplomatic tour, Blinken encountered broad opposition to Hamas from regional leaders but also witnessed concerns regarding the plight of the Palestinians. In Cairo, Blinken emphasized, "I made clear that it cannot be—must not be—business as usual with Hamas going forward. And at the same time, as I said, we're determined to do everything we can to address the needs of people in Gaza. Civilians should not have to suffer for Hamas's atrocities."