U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has embarked on his ninth diplomatic visit to the Middle East since the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict, with hopes for a prompt ceasefire agreement hanging in the balance. Blinken’s agenda includes meetings with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and President Issac Herzog in Israel, before heading to Cairo for discussions with ceasefire negotiators later in the week. The State Department has indicated that Blinken may also visit additional countries in the region before returning home.

A senior official accompanying Blinken emphasized the critical nature of his visit at this juncture of the ceasefire negotiations. Blinken is expected to emphasize the urgency of reaching a ceasefire to alleviate civilian suffering in Gaza and prevent the conflict from spreading across the region. Progress has been reported by the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar in mediating a potential ceasefire deal, involving Israel halting military operations in Gaza and a prisoner exchange between Israel and Hamas.

The U.S. has presented proposals aimed at bridging the remaining gaps between Israeli and Hamas positions. Responses to these proposals are awaited this week and could pave the way for a ceasefire announcement, unless the negotiations falter, a scenario experienced in previous efforts to end the ongoing conflict. President Joe Biden has expressed cautious optimism about the prospects of reaching a deal, hinting at proximity to an agreement. While Israel has responded positively to the proposals, Hamas has not disclosed its intended response yet.

This renewed effort to secure a ceasefire follows a mounting Palestinian death toll in Gaza, surpassing 40,000 since the war commenced, as reported by the Palestinian health ministry. The situation escalated after Hamas launched surprise attacks in Israel, resulting in approximately 1,200 fatalities, mostly civilians. Concerns about potential wider regional escalation have fluctuated since the conflict’s inception. Currently, Iran and its allies have issued threats of retaliation following the killings of senior Hezbollah commanders in Lebanon and the head of Hamas’ political wing in Iran.