Former New Jersey Governor, Chris Christie, has announced plans to visit Israel on Sunday, making him the first Republican presidential candidate to travel to the country since the outbreak of the war. During a town hall meeting in Merrimack, New Hampshire, Christie expressed his intention to meet with families of the people taken hostage by Hamas on October 7th, as well as members of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and government officials.

Christie emphasized the importance of experiencing the ground reality firsthand, stating, "I don't think you can try to be president of the United States and be afraid to go and see what's happening on the ground." He further added, "If you really want to lead, you need to go over and show the people of Israel that one person running for president of the United States cares enough to get on an airplane and get over there and do what needs to be done to find out how we fix this problem."

The main objective of Christie's trip to Israel is to gain knowledge and insights. He spoke of his plan to ask numerous questions and listen attentively to make himself a better candidate. Christie revealed that the invitation to visit Israel came from the country's foreign ministry, indicating their appreciation for his stance on the matter. When asked if the ministry had reached out to other candidates, Christie answered, "I have no idea, but I can just tell you that they said they appreciated the things I was saying and the stance I was taking if I was interested in coming over, they will be able to welcome me. And I made the decision to come."

This is not Christie's first visit to a conflict zone while running for president. In early August, he made a surprise trip to Ukraine. Furthermore, according to CNN, Christie is also planning to visit the Gaza envelope, a populated area located approximately five miles from the Gaza Strip.

In addition to his visit to Israel, Christie is scheduled to deliver a foreign policy address at the Hudson Institute in Washington on Wednesday. The conservative think tank is expected to offer Christie a platform to outline his perspectives on foreign affairs.

As Governor Christie ventures into this critical region, his trip could potentially influence his approach towards the conflict in the Middle East and enhance his understanding of the complex dynamics at play.