Blinken returns to Israel to push for humanitarian 'pause' during war with Hamas in Gaza

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken talks to reporters prior boarding his aircraft to depart Washington on travel to the Middle East and Asia at Andrews Air Force Base. Md., Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023. Jonathan Ernst/Pool via AP

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken landed in Israel on Friday, returning to the Middle East for a second time in weeks. During the frenzied trip, Blinken is expected to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli President Isaac Herzog and the Israel's war council and push for a humanitarian "pause."

As he did last month, Blinken will stress U.S. support for Israel and try to prevent a wider Mideast war and will pitch a more nuanced message than he offered in the immediate aftermath of Hamas’ bloody attack in Israel on Oct. 7, when more than 1,400 people were killed.

Blinken's agenda this time will include a call for Israel to observe a humanitarian "pause" to allow for humanitarian aid and additional supplies to get to Gazan civilians who have become victims in Israel's pursuit to eliminate Hamas, the terror group that governs the Gaza Strip.

“We will be talking about concrete steps that can and should be taken to minimize harm to men, women and children in Gaza," Blinken told reporters at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, before he departed for his trip to Israel and Jordan. "This is something that the United States is committed to."

Blinken will also push for the evacuation of more foreigners from Gaza. He is also expected to stress the importance of protecting civilians and to press Israel to rein in violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.

President Biden said Wednesday he thought there should be a humanitarian “pause” in the Israel-Hamas war in order to get “prisoners” out. The president has not specifically called for Israel to pause its military operations in Gaza and has so-far pushed against a "ceasefire."

Critics have said the Biden administration's call for a "pause" is a linguistics twist to actually mean a ceasefire. Pausing is ceasing fire, lawmakers and political commentators have expressed.

Netanyahu said Monday that calls for a cease-fire amount to surrendering to Hamas, which "will not happen."

Israel's military is also skeptical about a "pause," saying it would give Hamas fighters time to reorganize. The IDF has said does not want to give up pressure on Hamas.

The Secretary of State is also expected to press the Israeli leaders and its neighbors to begin considering what a post-conflict Gaza will look like, including who will govern it in Hamas' absence and how to establish an independent Palestinian state.

U.S. officials, including Biden and Blinken, have said repeatedly that they do not believe an Israeli re-occupation of Gaza is feasible. Israel agrees and said it does not intend to occupy the territory.

The White House in a statement said Biden has “made clear that the United States will continue to stand with Israel and affirmed Israel’s right to defend itself in line with international humanitarian law.”