The trip also comes as the Biden administration gradually shows more frustration with Israel, with sanctions imposed on Thursday on extremist settlers, although the United States has brushed aside international calls on Israel to end its military campaign.
The proposal under discussion – drafted during talks a week ago in Paris involving the CIA chief and Israeli, Qatari and Egyptian officials – would pause fighting for an initial six weeks as Hamas frees hostages seized on October 7 in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, according to a Hamas source.
Blinken, speaking last Monday after meeting in Washington with Qatar’s prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, said there was “real hope” for success of the “good, strong proposal”.
Qatar has also voiced optimism, although Hamas has said that there is no agreement and there is also division in Israel with hawks opposing perceived concessions to Hamas.
Scores killed in overnight strikes as Hamas weighs Gaza truce proposal
Scores killed in overnight strikes as Hamas weighs Gaza truce proposal
Hundreds rallied on Saturday night in Tel Aviv to demand swift action to free the hostages as well as early elections as they denounced the inability of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s hard-right government to win their freedom.
Sullivan, speaking to Face the Nation on CBS, said Blinken would press Israel to allow more food, water, medicine and shelter in Gaza, which has been reduced to rubble by nearly four months of bombardment.
“This will be a top priority of his when he sees the Israeli government – that the needs of the Palestinian people are something that are going to be front and centre in the US approach,” said Sullivan.
Nations and aid groups have warned of a risk of famine in Gaza with severe shortages of food and drinking water due to the Israeli campaign.
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Gaza’s Rafah zoo: Humanitarian crisis takes toll on both people and wildlife
Gaza’s Rafah zoo: Humanitarian crisis takes toll on both people and wildlife
After talks during his last trip in January with the de facto Saudi ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Blinken said he still saw a “clear interest” in pursuing normalisation.
But criticism against Israel has been rising in the Arab world over the offensive in Gaza which has killed 27,200 people, mostly women and children, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory.
Israel launched the campaign after Hamas fighters infiltrated Israel on October 7 and killed around 1,160 people, mostly civilians, in the deadliest attack in the country’s history.
Militants also seized 250 hostages. A November truce that broke down over a week saw the release of 105 of the hostages. Israel says around 132 remain, including the bodies of at least 28 dead hostages.