US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has continued his tour of the Middle East, seeking aid for the citizens of Gaza and trying to bring peace to the region. During a meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, he joined representatives from that country, the UAE, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, and the Palestine Liberation Organization to discuss efforts for lasting peace and security in the region.
He says this was part of efforts to achieve a ceasefire with the release of hostages taken by Hamas in October last year. Blinken then moved on to Jordan, where he met with King Abdullah II in Amman to express gratitude for Jordan’s leadership amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza. They discussed joint efforts to accelerate the delivery of food, medical supplies, and other lifesaving aid to Palestinians in Gaza.
The Secretary of State has been attempting to ease tension in the region as Israel continues its fight against Hamas in Gaza. More than 1200 Israelis and foreigners were killed when Hamas attacked th
e country on 7 October 2023. More than 230 people were taken hostage with around 100 freed. Many are believed to have been killed and the exact number of survivors still being held isn’t known.
In response, Israel attacked Gaza, with the estimated death toll at more than 33 000. After visiting Jordan, Blinken then moved on to Israel, meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. There they discussed a possible ceasefire and the return of hostages. However, Netanyahu has since said that Israel will launch an invasion of the southern Gaza city of Rafah regardless of truce talks with Hamas.
At a meeting of hostages’ relatives, Netanyahu said he would invade “with or without” a deal. His comments follow renewed warnings by the US against a Rafah invasion unless civilians are properly protected. In a phone call with Netanyahu on Sunday, US President Joe Biden “reiterated his clear position” on Rafah – saying it’s a “Red Line” that must not be crossed.
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