Blinken's Third Middle East Visit: Humanitarian Aid, Rallies for Ukraine, Climate Summit, and No Meeting with Lavrov

 US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to embark on his third visit to the Middle East, where he will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas. The primary focus of the trip will be on the need for humanitarian assistance in Gaza, the release of hostages, and the protection of civilians. Blinken will also represent the United States at the COP28 climate summit in Dubai.

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will also attend the climate summit, but there are no plans for a meeting between him and Blinken. The visit comes as mediators announce a 48-hour extension of the truce between Israel and Hamas, allowing for further releases of hostages and the arrival of humanitarian aid in Gaza. The United States has been urging Israel to work with the Palestinian Authority and curb the actions of settlers who have been attacking Palestinians in the West Bank. However, Netanyahu has been a long-standing critic of Abbas and a two-state solution.

The trip will also provide an opportunity for Blinken to rally support for Ukraine during talks with NATO foreign ministers and at a meeting of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in North Macedonia. The aim is to engage in discussions about providing support for Ukraine, which has faced aggression from Russia since the 2022 invasion. The Biden administration has shown support for Israel in the face of attacks by Hamas, but there is growing concern about the impact of Israeli reprisals on civilians.

The conflict has resulted in a high number of casualties, with the majority being Palestinian civilians. Blinken will also attend the COP28 climate summit to emphasize the United States' commitment to addressing climate change and engage with partners on the principles for the future of Gaza and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. There are no plans for a meeting between Blinken and Lavrov during the climate summit. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will attend the annual meeting of the pan-European security body OSCE, where he will discuss Russia's involvement in the conflict in Ukraine. US officials have reduced contact with Russia since the invasion of Ukraine but briefly met with Lavrov in March 2022.