U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken stated that he discussed with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman the efforts to increase urgent humanitarian aid and ensure its delivery to those in need in Gaza.
Blinken, who arrived in Saudi Arabia yesterday as the first stop on his new tour of the Middle East, emphasized the continued engagement in diplomacy in the region to reduce the expansion of the conflict.
The U.S. State Department confirmed in a statement that the meeting addressed the urgent need to reduce regional tensions, including halting Houthi attacks.
Prior to the visit, Blinken emphasized the necessity to urgently respond to the humanitarian needs in Gaza, as relief groups repeatedly raised alarm about the devastating consequences of the war, which is nearing its fifth month, on the besieged sector.
The official Saudi news agency “WAS” reported that the meeting reviewed the aspects of bilateral relations, prospects for joint cooperation, in addition to discussing regional developments and efforts towards achieving security and stability.
It is expected that Blinken will discuss a ceasefire proposal for the war between the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) and Israel in Gaza during his visit to the region, a proposal that was discussed during a meeting of senior U.S., Israeli, Egyptian, and Qatari officials in Paris last month.
Blinken’s tour will continue until Thursday, including visits to Qatar, Egypt, Israel, and the West Bank.
Ceasefire Proposal
Israel continued its attacks and threatened with a new ground invasion in the city of Rafah, where more than half of the population of Gaza – amounting to 2.2 million people – is crowded on the southern border of the sector with Egypt, living in temporary tents.
Sources familiar with the talks indicated that the ceasefire proposal includes a truce of at least 40 days, during which the resistance factions will release prisoners, including from among the remaining 253 hostages who were brought to Gaza on the 7th of October last.
However, Hamas affirmed that no agreement has been reached yet, while some Israeli officials expressed opposition to any concessions.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists on achieving what he called “complete victory,” stating that any cessation of fighting will only be temporary as long as Hamas fighters are free.
Hamas stated that it will not agree to a ceasefire or the release of hostages unless it receives guarantees that Israel will withdraw from Gaza and end the war.
Hamas’ political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh announced last week that he would travel to Cairo to present his response to the ceasefire proposal, but Hamas has not set a date for his trip.
A knowledgeable Palestinian official told Reuters that Hamas’s response may come “soon,” but it is up to Blinken to urge Netanyahu to make concessions that would complete the agreement.
Since the 7th of October last year, the Israeli army has launched a devastating war on Gaza with U.S. support, resulting in 27,478 martyrs and 66,835 injuries as of Monday, most of whom are children and women, according to the Palestinian authorities, causing immense destruction and an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe, according to the United Nations.
