TEL AVIV — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Israel on Tuesday for high-level meetings with Israeli officials, marking the beginning of a renewed push for a ceasefire in the Gaza war. Blinken’s visit, his 11th to the region since Hamas militants launched their October 7 attack on southern Israel, comes as the conflict has escalated, with Israeli forces intensifying their military operations in Gaza and Lebanon.
Blinken is set to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and other senior officials in hopes of facilitating progress toward a ceasefire. His visit is part of a broader Middle East tour that will include stops in Jordan and Qatar, where he will also engage in diplomatic efforts to address the conflict.
The Gaza war, now in its second year, has seen renewed violence in recent weeks, with Israel’s military campaign expanding not only in Gaza but also in southern Lebanon, where tensions with Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed militia, have surged. On Tuesday morning, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for rocket attacks on two Israeli military bases near Tel Aviv and a naval base west of Haifa.
Despite several diplomatic attempts, ceasefire efforts have so far failed to halt the fighting, which has significantly impacted both Israel and Lebanon. The spillover conflict between Hezbollah and Israel has heightened the region’s instability, making Blinken’s visit critical to any potential progress toward peace.