" Highlighting the changing views of leaders in the Arab and Muslim world towards Israel, Blinken argued that the creation of a Palestinian state could lead to regional unity and isolate Israel's top rival, Iran.

The Biden administration has been grappling with the challenge of balancing its longstanding support for Israel with growing concerns over the high number of Palestinian civilian casualties in Israel's conflict with Hamas militants. Blinken restated the importance of a pathway to a Palestinian state, reiterating that Israel cannot achieve genuine security without it.

Iran's foreign minister, Hossein Amirabdollahian, also attended the forum and cautioned that the fighting in the region could escalate if Israel does not end its campaign. He further acknowledged Iran's missile strikes on Israeli sites in Iraq and referred to a recent missile strike on Pakistan, which he described as part of a fight against "terrorism." These actions have drawn criticism from the governments of Pakistan and Iraq.

Addressing the audience at Davos, Saudi Arabia's foreign minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, expressed his country's belief that regional peace includes peace for Israel. However, he emphasized that recognition of Israel as part of a larger political agreement would only be possible through the establishment of a Palestinian state, a stance that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing government opposes.

Various global leaders also took the stage at the forum. Argentina's President Javier Milei delivered a fiery speech, warning against the rise of socialism and urging the business class to stand strong against political elites and "parasites" who live off the state. Pope Francis, on the other hand, called on business leaders to prioritize high ethical standards and not be solely driven by profit, as he emphasized the role of the global economy in serving the common good.

Secretary Blinken, during his time at Davos, held meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and others. In a conversation with New York Times columnist Tom Friedman, he affirmed that Jewish lives do not matter more than Palestinian lives, emphasizing equality and the need to ease the suffering of those affected by the ongoing conflict. The US aims to provide more humanitarian assistance to Palestinians while urging Israel to minimize civilian casualties.

South Africa has formally accused Israel of genocide against the Palestinians at the United Nations court, to which Israel has responded by stating that its actions were in defense and that Hamas is guilty of genocide. France, together with Qatar, facilitated the shipment of medicine to Gaza for hostages being held by Hamas.

As the forum continues, discussions persist on both the Middle East conflict and topics of innovation and economic growth.