Blinken extends Mideast visit to Israel amid talks for cease-fire deal

By Iclal Turan​​​​​​​

WASHINGTON (AA) - US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Israel on Friday, part of his sixth trip to the region since Oct. 7, including stops in Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Blinken will be in Tel Aviv to discuss the negotiations to secure a cease-fire agreement in exchange for the release of Israeli hostages and freedom for Palestinian prisoners.

“He will discuss the need to ensure the defeat of Hamas, including in Rafah, in a way that protects the civilian population, does not hinder the delivery of humanitarian assistance, and advances Israel’s overall security,” Miller said in a statement.

Blinken will also discuss the efforts to increase and sustain the delivery of humanitarian assistance to civilians and will update Israeli leaders on his talks with Arab leaders to “build lasting peace and security for Israelis, Palestinians, and the broader region,” according to Miller.

Blinken arrived Wednesday in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia for talks with officials, focusing on efforts to reach a deal for a temporary cease-fire and hostage deal between Israel and Hamas as well as efforts to increase humanitarian assistance to Gaza. He will later head to Egypt.

Blinken said during his trip Tuesday to the Philippines that he and his Arab partners will discuss the “right architecture for lasting regional peace.”

Blinken is also expected to discuss increasing humanitarian assistance into the enclave, and post-war Gaza plans.

He said that “100%, the totality of the population, is in need of humanitarian assistance,” adding that it is "absolutely incumbent" upon Israel to protect civilians and to provide for those who desperately need humanitarian assistance.