US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken is returning to the Middle East for the fifth time, continuing the diplomatic marathon that has begun since the start of the war in Gaza in an effort to prevent further spread of the conflict.

On his four-day trip, Anthony Blinken is expected to travel to Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, Israel and the West Bank. His goal is in part to “continue to work to prevent the conflict from spreading,” said Matthew Miller, a State Department spokesman.

In particular, according to the official information, the American Secretary of State, “will continue discussions with partners focused on achieving peace in the region in the context of which security will be ensured for both Israelis and Palestinians.”

The more immediate goal, however, is to secure a deal that would include the release of more than 100 hostages taken in the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas, but also a period of truce to allow humanitarian aid to be delivered to civilians. in Gaza.

Jake Sullivan, national security adviser by anthony biden, said on Sunday that ensuring more aid to civilians in Gaza would be a “top priority” for the US secretary of state on his trip, including meetings with the Israeli government.

“We want to make sure they have access to food, medicine, water, shelter, and we’re going to keep pushing until that happens,” he told CBS.

This is Anthony Blinken’s fifth trip to the region since the start of the war. His French counterpart, Stéphane Séjourné, has also embarked on a tour of the Middle East, making his first stop on Sunday in Egypt.