Secretary of State Blinken Visits West Bank in Effort to Broker Lasting Ceasefire Between Israel and Hamas

The visit was Blinken’s first to the West Bank since becoming Secretary of State, and was part of a larger effort to end the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Despite the secrecy and the State Department refusing to confirm the trip until after Blinken had physically left the West Bank, protests erupted against his visit and U.S. support for Israel as he arrived in Ramallah.

Blinken met with Abbas for several hours, discussing the need for a lasting ceasefire and the need for humanitarian aid to be delivered to the Gaza Strip. Blinken also expressed his condolences for the civilian casualties in Gaza, and pledged to work with the international community to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches those in need.

The visit came just hours after Israeli warplanes struck a refugee camp in the Gaza Strip, killing at least 40 people and wounding dozens, according to health officials. Blinken condemned the attack and urged both sides to de-escalate the conflict.

The Biden administration has been working to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, and Blinken’s visit to the West Bank is seen as a sign of the administration’s commitment to finding a lasting solution to the conflict. Blinken is expected to continue his diplomatic efforts in the region in the coming days, with stops in Egypt, Jordan, and Israel.