US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken made a surprise visit to both the West Bank and Iraq on Sunday, as part of his efforts to address the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip and to deter Iran from escalating the situation. In the West Bank, Blinken held an unannounced meeting with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah. They discussed US efforts to minimize civilian harm in Gaza and the need for a "significant pause" in the war. Abbas called for an immediate halt to the war in Gaza and an end to Israeli attacks in the West Bank. Meanwhile, the Health Ministry in Gaza reported that over 9,700 people have been killed in the Israeli campaign.

Civilians in Gaza continued to suffer the consequences of the conflict, with an explosion in a densely populated residential area causing the destruction of several buildings and the death and injury of many people. The Gazan Health Ministry stated that an Israeli airstrike had targeted Al Maghazi, a community built up from a refugee camp, resulting in at least 47 deaths and dozens of injuries. The toll was expected to rise as many bodies remained buried under the rubble. The Israeli military said it was investigating the reports of the strike. The military also announced that its forces had reached the shore south of Gaza City, cutting off the area from the rest of the enclave and causing a communications blackout.

Blinken's visit to Iraq aimed to warn groups against escalating the conflict or targeting American troops. He met with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani in a show of support and emphasized the United States' commitment to protecting its personnel from attacks by Iran or its proxies. Blinken urged al-Sudani to hold responsible those found to have carried out attacks against American personnel in Iraq and Syria. The Biden administration has been sending messages to Iran and Hezbollah, through regional partners like Turkey, that the US is prepared to intervene militarily if they launch attacks against Israel. The US has already taken action by shooting down cruise missiles and bombing facilities used by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps in Syria.

While the US has not backed Arab nations' calls for a formal ceasefire in Gaza, there is growing concern in Washington that the continued war will only worsen the situation. The Biden administration believes that a “pause” is necessary to secure the release of the Israeli hostages held by Hamas and to progress discussions. Hamas claimed that 50 captives had been killed in Israeli strikes. Blinken's meeting with Abbas addressed the need to curb extremist violence by Israeli settlers in the West Bank. Blinken also expressed the US's support for the Palestinian Authority to play a central role in governing Gaza once Hamas's rule is over. However, Abbas's influence in Gaza has been limited since Hamas's takeover in 2007.

The US Secretary of State's visit to Iraq was met with threats from Iran-backed group Kataib Hezbollah, which warned of an unprecedented escalation. Rocket and drone attacks on US and coalition troops have increased in Iraq and Syria since Hamas's attack, and Iraqi armed groups aligned with Iran have threatened to target US interests if Washington intervenes to support Israel against Hamas. Iran itself warned the US of being hit hard if a ceasefire in Gaza is not implemented.

Overall, Blinken's visits to the West Bank and Iraq aimed to address the ongoing conflict in Gaza, reassure Palestinian leaders, and deter Iran from escalating the situation. The US is committed to minimizing civilian harm in Gaza and protecting its personnel in the region. The outcome of these diplomatic efforts will be crucial in finding a path towards peace and stability in the Middle East.