US Sends Blinken to Israel Again... Also Visits Jordan and Turkey

Discussion on Measures to Reduce Civilian Casualties

The U.S. government is dispatching Secretary of State Tony Blinken back to Israel on the 3rd. This will be Blinken's third visit to Israel, following his trips on the 11th and 16th of last month shortly after the outbreak of the war on the 7th. He plans to discuss measures to reduce civilian casualties as Israel intensifies its ground operations in the Gaza Strip. He is also expected to visit Jordan and T?rkiye to discuss responses related to the war.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Matthew Miller, spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, announced in a briefing on the 1st (local time) that Secretary Blinken will visit Israel and Jordan on the 3rd.

Blinken is expected to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior officials. He plans to express support for Israel's right to self-defense under international law while emphasizing the need to take every precaution to minimize civilian deaths. Miller also stated that Blinken will discuss U.S. efforts to provide humanitarian aid to civilians in the Gaza Strip.

As international concern over civilian casualties in Gaza grows and political pressure mounts on the Biden administration, Blinken is expected to face focused questions about an exit strategy for Israel's military operations.

Following his visit to Israel, Blinken will visit Jordan to emphasize the importance of protecting civilian lives. He is also expected to mention efforts to expand and sustain humanitarian aid to civilians.

During this visit, Blinken will discuss the governance of the Gaza Strip currently controlled by Hamas after the war between Israel and the Palestinian armed group ends. He plans to consult with Middle Eastern partner countries on conditions for sustainable peace in the region, which includes plans for Palestinian state-building, according to Miller. Regarding the Palestinian governance model, the U.S. principles are: a "two-state" solution with Israel and Palestine existing as independent states; Hamas not governing the Gaza Strip; and Israel not occupying the Gaza Strip, Miller explained.

Additionally, Blinken is expected to stress that Iran and the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah must not be given justification or time to intervene.

According to local media in T?rkiye, after visiting Israel and Jordan, Blinken is expected to visit Ankara, the capital of T?rkiye, on the 5th. He is likely to meet directly with President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an. Previously, T?rkiye expressed support for Palestine and proposed a "multilateral peace guarantee" plan involving neighboring countries as a way to end the conflict.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, international criticism has intensified after Israel bombed the Jabalia refugee camp in the Gaza Strip on the 31st of last month, causing a large number of civilian casualties. United Nations Secretary-General Ant?nio Guterres strongly condemned Israel, saying he was "appalled." UN spokesperson St?phane Dujarric reported that Guterres condemned the killing of civilians in the strongest terms and called on both Israel and Hamas to stop the violence and suffering.

The White House has refrained from direct responses but emphasized the need to minimize civilian harm. John Kirby, coordinator for strategic communications at the White House National Security Council (NSC), said in a briefing that "we continue to engage with Israel, expressing concerns about civilian casualties and urging Israel to be careful and cautious to reduce such risks," adding, "We have not taken our eyes off civilian harm and will continue to monitor it."

However, Israel continues its attacks, bombing refugee camps in Gaza for two consecutive days. Israeli military chief spokesperson Daniel Hagari stated that "the ground operation is proceeding according to plan," emphasizing, "With our advance plans, precise intelligence, and joint land, sea, and air attacks, we have broken Hamas's defensive lines."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.