US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to travel to Israel and Jordan, leaving on Wednesday and arriving Thursday, to meet with senior officials amid the ongoing Hamas-Israel war, the US State Department announced Wednesday morning.
During the trip, Blinken is set to reaffirm US solidarity with Israel and its right to defend itself, as well as express his condolences to the families of the victims of the Hamas terrorist attacks.
This also comes as there are around 14 US nationals who have been killed and 20 still missing since the October 7 war began, according to State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller.
The announcement also comes following Blinken's discussion on Tuesday with Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer.
The two officials stressed that Hamas's terrorist attacks "have no justification, no legitimacy, and must be universally condemned."
US to provide support for Israel, help negotiate release of hostages
The State Department has also stressed it will provide material support for the Jewish state in its ongoing battle with the Gaza-based terrorist group, dubbed Operation Swords of Iron. The first tranche of security assistance is set to arrive in Israel in the coming days, Miller said.
The spokesperson also said Blinken is working in other ways to help Israel, such as by ensuring foreign counterparts with communication channels to parties hostile to Israel are making use of them to aid diplomatically, as well as working to help free the hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.
No visit to the West Bank
Since Saturday, Blinken has spoken on the phone with his counterparts from Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. US officials said Washington was pushing regional countries with influence on Hamas and others hostile to Israel to help stop the conflict from worsening.
"The attack by Hamas is a reminder of the perception of an American absence or lack of commitment to the region that some actors might interpret and do things they should not be doing," Alex Vatanka, director of the Iran program at the Middle East Institute said.
Biden on Wednesday called the Hamas attack "sheer evil", reaffirmed US support for Israel and issued an apparent warning to Iran and Iran-backed groups against exploiting the conflict: "I have one word: Don't."
Blinken's official itinerary did not include the West Bank, a source familiar with the matter said. On previous trips to the region, Blinken has visited the West Bank, controlled by the Palestinian Authority and its President Mahmoud Abbas.
Israel has also tightened its siege in Gaza, which it has kept under a blockade since Hamas seized power there in 2007, saying it will keep out food and fuel while vowing to further escalate with a ground offensive.
Washington said it was talking with Israel and Egypt about the idea of safe passage for civilians from Gaza, another key topic that Blinken may be discussing with his counterparts during the trip.
Biden has stopped short of an overt plea to Israel to show restraint to avoid Palestinian civilian casualties in Gaza. It was unclear whether Blinken might make such an appeal when he meets Israeli officials behind closed doors.
This is a developing story.