Secretary of State Tony Blinken asked the State Department to conduct a review and present policy options on possible U.S. and international recognition of a Palestinian state after the war in Gaza, two U.S. officials briefed on the issue told Axios.

Why it matters: While U.S. officials say there has been no policy change, the fact the State Department is even considering such options signals a shift in thinking within the Biden administration on possible Palestinian statehood recognition, which is highly sensitive both internationally and domestically.

[This is entirely idiotic. The Gazans have proven entirely unworthy of such recognition. After the Israelis withdrew in 2005, they turned to Hamas for leadership and converted the entire region into a fortress for military and terrorist conquest of Israel. Even apart from the October 7 massacres, Gazans have spent the last 17 years launching unguided missiles and rockets indiscriminately at Israeli civilian centers while using their own civilian infrastructure as cover for their military operations. In what world does that justify recognizing them as a sovereign state? — Ed]