In his ongoing Middle East tour, United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Ankara on Monday morning. The meeting lasted for two and a half hours, but President Recep Tayyip Erdogan snubbed Blinken, indicating the challenging nature of the Israel-Gaza talks.

Blinken's visit to Turkey follows strained meetings with Arab leaders in Iraq, Palestine, and Jordan over the weekend. Arab and Muslim leaders have expressed frustration over Washington's unwavering support for Israel during its monthlong assault on Gaza, which has resulted in the deaths of over 10,000 people, including a significant number of children.

During the meeting in Ankara, Blinken and Fidan discussed efforts to expand humanitarian assistance to those in need and prevent the conflict from spreading to other parts of the region. Blinken later expressed his commitment to working aggressively to provide more humanitarian assistance to Gaza.

However, Blinken's mission to contain the fallout from the Israel-Hamas war has faced limited support. While Israel has rejected the US push for a pause to the fighting, Arab and Muslim nations have called for an immediate ceasefire to mitigate the escalating casualties in Gaza.

Reports suggest that little agreement was reached between Blinken and Fidan during their meeting. The US side urged Turkish officials to exert pressure on Hamas to release captives, but Turkey demanded a mutual prisoner release, including Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Turkey also insisted on an unconditional ceasefire, with Ankara acting as the guarantor, while Blinken emphasized the need for a "humanitarian pause."

Turkey has been one of the most vocal critics of Israel and has accused it of war crimes and massacres. The country recently recalled its ambassador from Tel Aviv, and Erdogan has sharply criticized Western powers for supporting Israel during the Gaza bloodshed.

Blinken's visit also highlighted the strained relationship between the US and Turkey, which predates the current conflict. Issues such as NATO, Iraq, and the delay in approving a $20 billion deal for F-16 fighter jets continue to add to the tension.

Despite the challenges, Blinken expressed optimism about forward movement in addressing these issues. He mentioned Turkey's submission of the ratification protocol for Sweden's NATO membership and expected progress on that front. The US has also increased sanctions against Turkish entities linked to Russia and importation of war-related goods, further straining bilateral relations.

As the Gaza war continues, Erdogan has positioned Turkey as a mediator to bring about a ceasefire and pave the way for an independent Palestinian state. He emphasized the importance of establishing a humanitarian ceasefire and spoke about ongoing efforts to lay the groundwork for an international peace conference.

With tensions running high, protesters gathered outside a US airbase in southeastern Turkey ahead of Blinken's visit, expressing discontent and urging both the US and Turkish governments to halt the war in Gaza.

The meeting between Blinken and Fidan in Turkey underscores the challenges faced in resolving the Israel-Gaza conflict and the strained relations between the US and Turkey. Efforts to find common ground and establish a lasting peace continue, but obstacles remain as the conflict in Gaza persists.