U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken sees a ceasefire as the solution to everything. The US is trying to get ceasefire negotiations underway following the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.

Today, Blinken travelled on another tour of the Middle East. This time it’s the death of a Hamas leader that has him arguing in favour of a ceasefire.

Blinken’s trip to the region is his eleventh since the Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October 2023 triggered the Gaza war. It comes as Israel has intensified its offensive in Gaza and against the Hezbollah militia in Lebanon.

Blinken will talk to the region’s leaders about the importance of ending the Gaza war, how to develop a post-conflict plan for the Palestinian territories, and how to reach a diplomatic solution to the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, the State Department said in a statement.

U.S. Secretary of State begins tour of Israel (NTB-Reuters)

According to the New York Times, this is a renewed effort to bring calm to the region. The US State Department did not disclose which other countries Mr Blinken might visit.

Previously, he has visited Egypt and Jordan, as well as the Gulf Arab states of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

Mr. Blinken will arrive in the region at a time when it is bracing for Israel to attack Iran in retaliation for an Iranian ballistic missile barrage on Israel earlier this month.

American and Israeli officials have been discussing the response in recent weeks, and Israeli officials have told Washington that they will refrain from attacks on Iranian nuclear or energy sites that could lead to dramatic escalation between the countries.

Joe Biden has also urged Israel not to attack Iranian oil installations. The reason, according to some commentators, is, among other things, that the Democrats do not want the price of oil to rise just before the US presidential election on 5th of November, in two weeks and one day.