As the war between Israel and Hamas enters its sixth day, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is worsening. At least 1,200 people are now confirmed dead in the Palestinian enclave and more than 300,000 displaced as Israel mulls a ground invasion. Washington's top diplomat Antony Blinken is travelling to the Middle East for a trip aimed at demonstrating support for Israel, encouraging the release of hostages and preventing a wider war from breaking out. But will US involvement make any difference? In Perspective, we spoke to analyst Michael Shurkin, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council.