US Secretary of State Blinken to Visit Middle East Amidst Ongoing Gaza Ceasefire Talks

The articles report on ongoing tensions between Israel and the United States regarding Israel's plans to invade Rafah in the Gaza Strip. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel acknowledged a dispute with the U.S. but stated that Israel would continue its military actions in Rafah. The U.N. Human Rights Chief raised concerns that Israel may be using starvation as a weapon of war in Gaza, where extreme food shortages have surpassed famine levels. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is scheduled to visit the Middle East this week to discuss humanitarian aid for Gaza and post-war planning. Netanyahu agreed to send a team of officials to Washington to explore alternatives to an invasion of Rafah, as both Biden and Sullivan warned against a major ground operation due to potential disastrous consequences. Blinken stated that 100% of the Gaza population requires humanitarian assistance. Despite these warnings, Netanyahu defied the West and announced his intention to press ahead with military actions in Rafah.