Blinken to visit Tel Aviv on Friday for discussions on hostage deal and Rafah operation

Tel Aviv, March 21 (IANS) US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, is set to visit Israel on Friday to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior leaders. Prior to his visit to Israel, Blinken will also hold meetings with senior Egyptian and Saudi leaders in Cairo and Riyadh, respectively.

The visit of Blinken, a key figure in US leadership, to the Middle East, particularly Israel, aims to communicate the American standpoint on the hostage situation and the potential ground invasion of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in Rafah area. US President Joe Biden has advised Netanyahu against proceeding with the Rafah ground operations fearing civilian casualties, including women and children.

The Rafah area in the Gaza Strip is home to an estimated 1.3 million civilians. Israeli troops plan to evacuate the civilian population to the north of Rafah, but Egypt has expressed strong opposition to the operation due to concerns of a massive refugee exodus to its Sinai region bordering Rafah.

In the meantime, indirect talks between Israel and Hamas continue in Doha, Qatar. Despite ongoing negotiations, Israel remains firm on its stance and is reluctant to agree to Hamas’ demands regarding the hostage deal, leading to difficulties in the mediation process.

According to sources in the Israel Defence Ministry, the talks will only progress based on Israeli terms. Officials have demanded a phased release of all hostages held by Hamas, emphasizing that Palestinian prisoners accused of serious crimes cannot be included in any potential exchange. Intelligence reports suggest that Hamas’ resistance in the Rafah area is weakening, with the key to defeating the militant group lying in the region.

Israel’s Defence Minister, Yoav Gallant, known for his hardline approach, has urged the IDF to target Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. As tensions escalate, Blinken’s visit raises questions on how he will navigate the situation to prevent a potential ground offensive by the confident Israeli army in the Rafah region.

It remains to be seen how Blinken’s diplomatic efforts will impact the evolving situation in the Middle East as the region grapples with complex geopolitical tensions and security threats.–IANS
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