Efforts to reach a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip – discussions on post-war governance, etc.
A message to prevent the escalation of US pro-Iranian militia airstrikes
The New York Times (NYT) and others reported that U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken arrived in Saudi Arabia, the first destination of his fifth trip to the Middle East, on the 5th (local time).
This is Secretary Blinken’s fifth trip to the Middle East since the outbreak of the Israeli-Palestinian Hamas Gaza War on October 7 last year.
This also comes as the United States is carrying out large-scale retaliatory airstrikes against pro-Iranian militias throughout Syria, Iraq, and Yemen in response to the attack on a U.S. military base in Jordan on the 27th of last month, in which three U.S. soldiers were killed.
During this trip, Secretary Blinken will visit Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, Israel, and the West Bank. He is expected to meet Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and his counterpart, Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud.
During his trip, Secretary Blinken plans to work to reach an agreement on a ceasefire being mediated by Egypt and Qatar to release hostages and expand humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. He will also discuss post-war governance of Gaza.
Israel, Qatar, Egypt, and the United States recently proposed a three-stage ceasefire plan aimed at a six-week ceasefire at a four-party meeting in Paris, but Hamas has not yet expressed its position. Some analysts say that Hamas leadership inside and outside the Gaza Strip is experiencing internal divisions due to differences of opinion over the ceasefire plan.
Secretary Blinken is also expected to deliver the message that U.S. retaliatory airstrikes against pro-Iranian armed organizations should not lead to an escalation of war in the Middle East.
According to NYT, a U.S. official who requested anonymity explained, “Secretary Blinken will tell Middle East allies that the Joe Biden administration’s recent attacks on pro-Iranian militias should not be interpreted as an escalation of fighting in the Middle East.”
In Israel, the United States plans to convey America’s concerns about the continued increase in the number of Palestinian civilian deaths in the Gaza Strip. According to the Gaza Strip’s Ministry of Health, since the outbreak of the Gaza War, more than 27,300 Palestinian civilians have died and 2 million people have been displaced.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.