Antony Blinken is a US diplomat and the current secretary of state.
Born to Jewish parents, this veteran of the US State Department has served numerous high-level functions throughout his career. In 2021, he was selected by US President Joe Biden to serve as secretary of state.
Blinken reiterated his commitment to bringing hostages home, and encouraged people to have faith.
Secretary of State Blinken is also expected to meet with National Unity MKs Benny Gantz and Gadi Eisenkot
Separate from the issue of hostages, Blinken is also expected to discuss needed improvements on the issue of humanitarian assistance to Gaza.
A spiraling humanitarian crisis has prompted calls from Israel's Western and Arab partners to do more to facilitate the entry of aid to the enclave.
US Secretary of State Blinken acknowledges progress in Gaza aid but insists more action is needed, pledging to address issues with Israeli officials.
Blinken will visit Israel and Jordan after he visits Saudi Arabia, the State Department announced on Sunday. The US official will be in the region until May 1.
“If there is an option to make a deal, we will do it,” Katz said, although he stressed that this would not impact the overall goal of the war, which was to destroy Hamas.
Blinken had previously said that an invasion into Rafah would be pose severe risk to the city's displaced population.
Biden created this position in the immediate aftermath of Hamas's attacks on October 7 to " lead US regional diplomacy to surge humanitarian aid to Gaza," Blinken said.
Blinken said the Department will have "more to say" about Israel's adherence to the Leahy law in the coming days.
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