Concluding a whirlwind seven-day tour across the Middle East, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken highlighted the importance of establishing a Palestinian state as the "single best way to isolate, marginalize Iran" and promote regional normalization. Speaking to reporters in Cairo after meeting with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi, Blinken outlined two potential paths for the region.
The first path involves integrating Israel with security assurances from both regional countries and the US, along with a commitment to a Palestinian state or, at least, a pathway to its establishment. Blinken stressed that pursuing this path would help counter terrorism and destabilization caused by groups such as Hamas, the Houthis, and Hezbollah, all backed by Iran. This, he argued, is the most effective strategy to isolate and marginalize Iran and its proxies.
During his Middle East tour, Blinken engaged with leaders in Turkey, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Israel, aiming to find solutions to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Speaking in Cairo, he affirmed the commitment of American diplomacy to work persistently for lasting peace in the region.
Blinken also addressed the issue of hostages, highlighting joint efforts by the US, Egypt, and Qatar to mediate their release. He disputed the casualty figure provided by Hamas, which claims over 23,000 Palestinians killed in war-related violence, as it doesn't distinguish between terrorists and civilians. Israel, in contrast, asserts that more than 8,000 Hamas combatants have been killed in Gaza.
In discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Cabinet ministers, Blinken advocated for the passage of more humanitarian aid trucks into the Gaza Strip, acknowledging the urgent need for essential commodities in the area facing increasing famine. He also emphasized the return of displaced Palestinians, particularly in northern Gaza, while clarifying that the US views the conflict as against Hamas and not the Palestinian people.
(With Agency Inputs)
