US Secretary of State Antony Blinken Aims to Build Support for Humanitarian Pauses in Gaza
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is embarking on his second trip to the Middle East since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war, with the goal of garnering support for humanitarian pauses in the fighting in Gaza, according to US officials. Blinken will meet with foreign ministers from Israel and Washington’s Arab allies at a summit in Amman to discuss the possibility of temporary and localized ceasefires to allow for aid to flow into Gaza and the safe evacuation of civilians. These pauses could also help Hamas locate the hostages it kidnapped during its recent onslaught and give the Biden administration an opportunity to gather intelligence on their whereabouts. The United States is currently flying surveillance drones over the Gaza Strip to aid in this effort. While the Biden administration does not want to give Hamas a chance to regroup militarily, it believes that humanitarian pauses are necessary to prevent a complete collapse of the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
However, convincing Israel to embrace the idea of humanitarian pauses will be a challenge. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has already denied reports that he is considering such pauses, as Israel believes that only continued pressure will force Hamas to capitulate. Additionally, the Biden administration has privately urged Israel to limit its airstrikes in the southern part of Gaza, where civilians have been told to evacuate. The United States argues that the IDF’s legitimacy to target that area is diminished after urging civilians to relocate there, while Israel maintains that it reserves the right to target Hamas anywhere in the Strip.
The Biden administration is also attempting to rally support from its Arab partners for humanitarian pauses. Jordan, in particular, has been a strong advocate for an immediate ceasefire and submitted a resolution to the UN General Assembly calling for an end to the fighting. Blinken will meet with Arab counterparts in Amman to gain their support for the Biden administration’s policies on the Israel-Hamas war, which include humanitarian aid, opposition to the permanent displacement of Palestinians, and opposing a permanent Israeli occupation in Gaza. The United States hopes to reach diplomatic agreements on these issues before the summit takes place.
Pressure for a ceasefire is also growing within the United States, particularly among far-left Democrats. However, the Biden administration has rejected the idea, fearing that it would be seen as a victory for Hamas. Vice President Kamala Harris has stated that the United States will continue to support Israel’s right to defend itself and will not dictate how Israel should conduct its military operations.
Before departing for the Middle East, Blinken expressed concern for the civilians caught in the crossfire of the conflict and stated that concrete steps need to be taken to protect them. He acknowledged that Hamas is using human shields and has placed military infrastructure in civilian areas, making it difficult to avoid civilian casualties in the fighting.
