Blinken arrives in Jordan amid Israel-Hamas conflict

ISTANBUL (AA) - US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Jordan’s capital Amman early Friday following talks in Israel.

On Thursday, Blinken extended his trip to Israel and Jordan to include the Arab nations of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt.

The top US diplomat “will travel to Israel, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt October 11-15, 2023, where he will meet with senior officials," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement.

Blinken will reiterate his "condemnation of the terrorist attacks in Israel in the strongest terms," said Miller, adding the secretary "will also reaffirm the United States’ solidarity with the government and people of Israel."

"The Secretary will engage regional partners on efforts to help prevent the conflict from spreading, secure the immediate and safe release of hostages, and identify mechanisms for the protection of civilians," Miller said in the statement.

Blinken arrived in Israel on Thursday to show US support in the aftermath of the attack by the Palestinian Hamas group over the weekend.

“The message I bring with me is this: you may (be) strong enough on your own to defend yourselves, but as long as America exists, you will never have to,” he said.

Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood against Israel on Saturday in a multi-pronged surprise attack that included a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel via land, sea and air.

Hamas said the operation was in retaliation for the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem and Israeli settlers’ growing violence against Palestinians.

The Israeli military then launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets within the Gaza Strip. Israel's response has extended into cutting water and electricity supplies to Gaza, further worsening living conditions in an area that has reeled under a crippling siege since 2007.