US Secretary of State Antony Blinken Stresses Palestinian Authority's Role in Gaza Future Amidst Ongoing Conflict

 US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, made a visit to the Middle East, meeting with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah and Iraqi leaders in Baghdad. Blinken emphasized the importance of the Palestinian Authority's role in the future of the Gaza Strip and the need for Palestinian voices and aspirations to be at the center of discussions. He also made it clear that the United States would not tolerate attacks or threats against its personnel in the region.

During the visit, Israel continued its air strikes on Gaza, leading to a death toll of over 9,770 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials. Blinken rejected calls for a ceasefire but pushed for humanitarian pauses, including the release of hostages. He acknowledged Israel's concerns about how these pauses would work and stated that details were currently being discussed. Blinken also discussed post-conflict plans for Gaza, seeking to prevent the conflict from spreading further in the region. He expressed the United States' commitment to getting aid into Gaza and restoring essential services there.

Blinken acknowledged that an effective and revitalized Palestinian Authority could play a role in the governance of the strip, but also mentioned the possibility of other countries and international agencies being involved in security and governance in the interim. The visit highlighted the troubled state of the Palestinian Authority, which has faced allegations of corruption and incompetence, as well as criticism for its security cooperation arrangements with Israel. It remains unclear who will succeed President Abbas, who is aging and ailing. Egypt and Jordan's foreign ministers also called for an immediate ceasefire and expressed concern about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Overall, Blinken's visit aimed to address the ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis in Gaza, while emphasizing the importance of including Palestinian perspectives in discussions about the future of the region.