Blinken’s Urgent Trip to Israel After Refugee Camp Strike: Easing Regional Tensions Top Priority

Blinken Returns to the Middle East After Over a Month
Blinken’s Airstrikes for “Hamas Eradication” vs. Saudi Arabia’s “Strong Opposition to Targeting Civilians Completely”

Amid global shock at the Israeli military’s attack on a refugee camp in the Gaza Strip, U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken is heading back to Israel.

Blinken, returning to the Middle East after just 3 weeks

On the 31st (local time), the U.S. Department of State announced that Secretary of State Tony Blinken would visit Israel on the 3rd to meet with senior Israeli government officials and then sequentially visit Middle Eastern countries. 

State Department spokesperson Ned Price said, “Secretary Blinken will visit Israel on the 3rd for talks with members of the Israeli government and will visit other places in the region afterward.” Blinken visited Israel, Jordan, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Egypt on the 12th of last month. He is heading to the Middle East again after about three weeks. 

The news of Blinken’s visit to the Middle East came after it was revealed that the Israeli military had bombed a refugee camp in northern Gaza. He emphasized the need to take all possible preventive measures to minimize civilian casualties during a call with Israeli President Isaac Herzog. Price said, “Secretary Blinken reiterated U.S. support for Israel’s right to defend itself under international humanitarian law.”

Blinken is expected to urge Israel to minimize civilian casualties during his visit. He is also expected to discuss measures related to the introduction of multinational forces after the expulsion of Hamas. Bloomberg cited an anonymous source saying that U.S. and Israeli officials are considering the possibility of deploying international forces, including U.S., British, and French troops, in the Gaza Strip if the Israeli military successfully eliminates Hamas.

In addition, the U.S. and Israel are considering plans to establish peacekeeping forces modeled after the 1979 Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty and to place the Gaza Strip under UN supervision temporarily. However, sources said discussions are early and could change significantly. Blinken admitted at a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing that it is difficult to plan for the future of the Gaza Strip. He said, “We cannot go back to the status quo of Hamas ruling the Gaza Strip,” and “We also cannot allow Israel to operate or control the Gaza Strip.”

​Israel, bombing refugee camp to eliminate Hamas vs Saudi “Completely against targeting civilians”

Meanwhile, the Israeli military bombed a residential area in the Jabalia refugee camp located in the northern Gaza Strip. The Hamas Ministry of Interior claimed that the explosion resulted in 400 casualties.

The Israeli military argued that they had no choice but to bomb the refugee camp to assassinate Ibrahim Bayari, the commander of the Hamas Jabalia brigade.

Jonathan Conricus, a spokesperson for the Israeli military, said, “We attacked the camp to kill Ibrahim Bayari, who played a key role in planning and executing the October 7 attack,” and “Dozens of Hamas fighters were killed when the underground tunnel under the refugee camp collapsed due to the airstrike.” He added, “This is why there are many reports of collateral damage and non-combatant casualties, and we are investigating this as well.”

Conricus claimed that the Israeli military warned civilians to leave the area through leaflet drops, social media messages, and radio broadcasts. He said he could not yet provide details about the type or number of ammunition used in the attack.

Neighboring countries such as Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar immediately reacted to the news of the refugee camp attack. The Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned, “Israel’s expansion of attacks to civilian facilities such as hospitals, schools, and refugee shelters can hinder mediation and tension-easing efforts,” and “This will lead to additional escalation of violence and instability.” Saudi Arabia also criticized, “We are completely against the Israeli occupying forces repeatedly targeting densely populated civilian areas.”

By. Yoon Ju Hae