U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will embark on an ambitious tour of the Middle East next week, presumably with a suitcase full of high hopes and extra-strong peace talks. The goal? To press for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which at this point, probably feels like trying to convince a two-year-old to share their candy.

Blinken's itinerary reads like a travel blogger's dream: Egypt, Israel, Jordan, and Qatar. Yet, this is less about soaking up different cultures and more about trying to stop an enduring conflict that seems to have taken up permanent residence on the front pages.

The Secretary's visit comes hot on the heels of President Joe Biden's new ceasefire plan, which outlines measures to alleviate suffering in Gaza, enable humanitarian assistance, and—somewhat optimistically—allow Palestinians to return to whatever remains of their neighborhoods. One might describe it as ambitious, but then, ambition has never really shied away from the Middle East.

Talks mediated by Egypt, Qatar, and others to arrange a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas have repeatedly stalled. It’s reminiscent of trying to arrange a group project meeting in college; everyone agrees it’s important, but no one wants to actually commit.

Adding to the packed agenda, Blinken will attend a conference on humanitarian response to Gaza in Jordan, co-hosted by Jordan, Egypt, and the United Nations. The coordinated gathering could be seen as a practical step forward—or a well-organized coffee break to discuss how hard peacekeeping is.

The Biden administration, aware that diplomacy is as much about persuasion as it is persistence, has been pushing countries like Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey to exert pressure on Hamas to accept the ceasefire deal. However, Hamas, true to form, has not formally responded to the proposal transmitted by the Qataris, proving once again that when it comes to diplomacy, silence isn’t necessarily golden.

Meanwhile, Qatar has adopted a more direct approach, threatening to kick out Hamas if they don’t accept the deal. It appears even patience has its limits, even if you host the Al Jazeera headquarters.

Blinken's journey marks his eighth visit to the region since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, which is impressive stamina for anyone not training for an ultra-marathon. But who needs cardio when you're rushing between diplomatic handshakes and peace negotiation tables?

The ceasefire proposal also aims to unlock calm along Israel's northern border with Lebanon. It's akin to hoping the bouncer at a bar fight can handle things politely.

In summary, as Blinken sets off on his whirlwind tour, one can only hope that the talks he carries are robust enough to nudge the Middle East conflict into taking a well-deserved vacation. In this high-stakes game of geopolitical diplomacy, persistence may yet pay off, but only time will tell if Blinken's peace overture can pluck a few thorns from the longstanding regional strife.