Blinken and Arab Foreign Ministers meet for 'Gaza'

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Arab Foreign Ministers in Egypt, where he arrived as part of his 6th Middle East tour since October 7, for a meeting on Gaza.

The meeting was attended by Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan, Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation Reem Al Hashimy, as well as the Secretary-General of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Executive Committee, Hussein al-Sheikh.

The meeting addressed a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, obstacles to the delivery of humanitarian aid, efforts for a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, and the hunger crisis in the Gaza Strip.

"THERE IS NO NEED TO FURTHER INCREASE SUFFERING"

Following the meeting, Blinken and Shoukry held a joint press conference. Stating that Israel's planned military operation in Rafah was also discussed, Shoukry said, "We agreed on coordinating on all these issues. There is no need to further increase the suffering of the people."

"A GROUND OPERATION IN RAFAH WOULD BE A MISTAKE"

Describing Israel's planned operation in Rafah as "unnecessary," Blinken said, "We have been very clear that a major ground operation in Rafah would be a mistake and that we cannot support it. There is nowhere for the displaced people there to go, and any attack would lead to a humanitarian catastrophe."

Referring to the ongoing ceasefire negotiations between Hamas and Israel in Qatar, Blinken stated that "the gaps are narrowing" and that the U.S. continues to push for an agreement. Blinken announced that while a ceasefire deal remains difficult, he believes it is still possible.

Stating that "very good progress" has been made toward a normalization agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia, Blinken said he had a "very good conversation" with Saudi leaders during his visit to Saudi Arabia yesterday regarding establishing closer ties between the two countries. Noting that he could not provide a timeline for the agreement, Blinken said the talks were "getting closer to a point where an agreement could be reached."

News Source: İHA