U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has delayed his trip to the Middle East due to heightened security concerns in the region and the potential for a retaliatory strike from Iran against Israel. The trip, originally scheduled for Tuesday, was postponed over uncertainty about the situation, according to sources.
The delay comes as cease-fire talks are planned later this week following more than 10 months of conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Recent events, including Hamas firing rockets at Tel Aviv and Israel launching airstrikes in Gaza, have added to the tensions.
Despite the ongoing violence, U.S. officials remain optimistic that the talks will resume as planned on Thursday. Leaders of Britain, France, and Germany have urged Iran and its allies to avoid retaliatory attacks against Israel following the assassination of a top Hamas commander in Tehran last month.
Israel was immediately accused of the assassination, which came after Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7, resulting in casualties and hostages. The death toll among Palestinians is nearing 40,000, as reported by Gaza's Health Ministry.
European leaders are supporting efforts by mediators from the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt to broker an agreement to end the Israel-Hamas conflict. The proposed three-phase plan involves the release of hostages captured by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israel, along with Israel's withdrawal from Gaza.
