In a recent visit to the Middle East amidst Israel's ongoing conflict with Gaza, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has emphasized the significance of offering Palestinians a path to statehood. Blinken stated that this move could not only bring stability to the region but also isolate Iran.

During his visit on Thursday, Blinken met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and highlighted two possible paths for the region. The first path involves integrating Israel, along with security assurances and commitments from regional countries and the United States. Additionally, it involves establishing a Palestinian state or at least paving the way towards one.

Blinken warned about the alternative path, which would involve the continuation of terrorism, nihilism, and destruction by groups such as Hamas, the Houthis, and Hezbollah, all backed by Iran. The Secretary of State argued that pursuing the first path would be the best way to isolate and marginalize Iran along with its proxies causing trouble in the region.

Blinken's visit followed concerns expressed by Egypt and Jordan, who urged Israel to ensure that its military campaign does not lead to the displacement of Gaza's 2.3 million residents or result in an Israeli occupation. The Health Ministry in the Palestinian territory reported that the conflict has claimed the lives of over 230 people in Gaza thus far.

During his tour, Blinken also met with allies in the region, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Turkey, with the aim of preventing the Gaza war from escalating into a larger regional conflict. He called on Arab countries to maintain control and prevent the conflict from spreading further.

Earlier, Blinken met with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah and reiterated the US's support for Palestinian statehood. He also urged the Palestinian Authority to govern Gaza once the war concludes. Notably, the Israeli political leadership has yet to announce any plans for the governance of Gaza post-war.

As the conflict between Israel and Gaza continues, Blinken's efforts to promote a path to Palestinian statehood, stability, and the isolation of Iran appear to be a vital step in resolving the ongoing tensions in the region.