U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken landed in Israel on Tuesday as part of a broader Middle East tour aimed at reviving Gaza ceasefire talks and shaping the future of the embattled enclave. Blinken’s trip, his eleventh to the region since the Gaza war erupted on October 7, comes as Israel intensifies its military operations in Gaza and against Hezbollah in Lebanon. The top U.S. diplomat is expected to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu before moving on to Jordan and Qatar in an effort to engage Arab nations in the diplomatic process.

Blinken’s visit follows the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, a development that U.S. officials see as an opportunity to push for an end to the conflict. However, with the U.S. presidential election looming, any immediate breakthrough seems elusive. Aaron David Miller, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, noted that neither Hamas nor Netanyahu have shown an urgency to reach a resolution.

Discussions during Blinken’s trip are expected to focus on post-conflict governance in Gaza, humanitarian assistance, and regional security. Blinken will also address the escalating tension between Israel and Hezbollah, as well as Israel's potential response to a recent ballistic missile attack from Iran. The Biden administration has urged Israel to take concrete measures to address the worsening situation in Gaza or face potential restrictions on U.S. military aid.

Experts predict little movement on a ceasefire agreement, with deep divisions between Hamas and Israel making negotiations difficult. Despite this, U.S. officials maintain there is still an opportunity to advance talks during the tour, with hopes of refining proposals for post-conflict governance and reconstruction in Gaza.

As the conflict continues to unfold, Blinken’s Middle East trip will test the potential for renewed diplomacy amid a region on the brink of broader conflict.