Blinken on diplomatic push to prevent Gaza crisis spreading

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is on his fourth trip to the Middle East since the Israel-Hamas conflict erupted on October 7. Blinken met with leaders from Turkey, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and others to address the ongoing conflict. After discussions, the parties agreed to coordinate efforts to stabilize and aid Gaza, establish a political path for Palestinians, and work towards long-term peace and security. However, it remains uncertain how much consensus reached with Arab leaders influences Israeli leaders. Experts anticipate challenges due to staunch U.S. support for Israel during the conflict. Despite rising tensions in the region, Blinken’s visit is mainly focused on stabilizing relations between Middle Eastern countries. Some experts highlight contradictions in the U.S. strategy, pointing out that continuing military aid to Israel may exacerbate the conflict rather than resolve it. The effectiveness of U.S. efforts to influence Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is questioned, with limited impact observed so far.

Source – CGTN