Blinken warns of regional escalation ahead of talks with Israel

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is due to arrive in Israel in a bid to stop the conflict in Gaza escalating into a wider regional standoff. 

On a five-day trip also taking in Arab states and the occupied West Bank, Blinken has repeated his calls that Palestinian civilians "must not be pressed to leave Gaza," adding that displaced citizens should be allowed to return home once the fighting ends.   

His comments come after some Israeli ministers again floated proposals for the "voluntary transfer" of Gazans to third countries, as part of a long term peace settlement.

Last week the Democratic Republic of Congo, Chad and Rwanda all denied that preliminary talks with Israel over hosting Palestinian refugees had been held, with Kigali dismissing the reports as "disinformation." 

Conflict may 'metastasize'

Last week a drone attack in Beirut killed the senior Hamas figure Saleh al-Arouri. This was followed by the death in Iran of over hundred people, attending anniversary commemorations for the killing of army chief  Qassim Soleimani. The strikes have led to threats of reprisals, both by Lebanon's Hezbollah and Iran's Ayatollah Khamenei. 

Meanwhile, drone strikes by Houthi rebels on shipping vessels in the Red Sea have continued despite warnings of a U.S. military response. 

Speaking alongside Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdulrahman Al Thani on Sunday, Blinken said: "This is a conflict that could easily metastasize, causing even more insecurity and even more suffering." 

Al Thani said the events in Gaza were proving to be "a big test for our humanity." But the emir added that the killing of al-Arouri had negatively affected Qatar's efforts to negotiate with Hamas over Israeli hostage releases.

'Influence ..and ties'

Blinken's tour began in Ankara on Saturday, with the U.S. diplomat saying talks with President Erdogan had focused "extensively on what Türkiye can do, using its influence, using its ties, to help prevent the conflict from spreading."

His comments have raised speculation in Israel that Washington may be seeking a role for regional countries like Türkiye and Qatar in the running of Gaza once the fighting is over. 

That's likely to be rejected by the government of Prime Minister Netanyahu, which accuses both nations of harboring Hamas leaders and facilitating funding for the group in the run-up to the October 7 attacks.    

Blinken is set to repeat his calls for greater safeguarding for Gaza's civilians on his arrival in Israel. However, with the Israeli military claiming Hamas's command has been destroyed in northern Gaza, Prime Minister Netanyahu has again refused calls for a ceasefire.

"The war must not be stopped until we achieve all the goals" the Israeli leader said. "The elimination of Hamas, the return of all our hostages, and ensuring that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel...I say this to both our enemies and our friends."

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