Antony Blinken is set to visit Saudi Arabia in an effort to resume talks for a ceasefire in Gaza
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to travel to Saudi Arabia on Monday to restart ceasefire negotiations between Hamas and Israel, as well as discuss ways to prevent further regional conflict. Blinken will engage in diplomatic talks during the World Economic Forum in Riyadh, focusing on ceasefire negotiations and providing humanitarian aid to Gaza. The State Department has stated that Blinken will stress the importance of preventing the conflict from spreading and will address efforts to achieve lasting peace and security in the region. Egyptian officials are also involved in mediating talks between Hamas and Israel. Their proposed solution involves the release of hostages held in Gaza in exchange for Palestinians being allowed to return to their homes. The objective is to find a compromise that addresses the concerns of both parties and sets the stage for further negotiations to bring an end to the war.
The conflict began on October 7th when Hamas initially took 250 hostages, resulting in an unprecedented attack that claimed 1,136 lives. Since then, Israeli airstrikes on Gaza have caused an estimated 34,000 deaths and extensive damage to urban areas. At the same time, Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon have increased, raising concerns of further escalation and causing unease among international allies. French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné recently visited Lebanon to help ease tensions along the southern border. Séjourné proposed that Hezbollah’s elite unit withdraw from the demarcation line between Israel and Lebanon in exchange for Israel halting strikes inside Lebanese territory.
In Riyadh, Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah chaired a meeting with counterparts from Jordan and Egypt, as well as diplomats from Qatar, the UAE, and the Palestinian Liberation Organization. The meeting focused on discussing a ceasefire in Gaza and efforts to achieve an independent Palestinian state. Meanwhile, Israeli media reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s primary concern is the potential issuance of an arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court against him, as well as other top Israeli officials and military personnel. Netanyahu emphasized that while decisions made by the court will not affect Israel’s actions, they will set a dangerous precedent that threatens soldiers and public figures.
The international pressure on mediators to secure a ceasefire deal in Gaza has intensified as Israeli forces announce their readiness to attack the southernmost city of Rafah with government approval. This decision has raised concerns about the potential for a catastrophic loss of human life, and it also jeopardizes the prospects of hostage release or a diplomatic resolution to the conflict.A Hamas delegation is expected to arrive in Cairo on Monday to review the current ceasefire deal. The organization remains steadfast in its refusal to compromise on demands for a permanent ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, and the “unconditional” return of Palestinians to the northern part of the territory.
Before Blinken’s departure, the State Department attributed the lack of progress in achieving a ceasefire to Hamas’s unwillingness to compromise. “The secretary will address the ongoing efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza, which involves the release of hostages, and emphasize that it is Hamas that obstructs the Palestinian people’s path to a ceasefire,” they said.
As Egypt intensifies its mediation efforts, Majed al-Ansari, the Qatari foreign ministry spokesperson and advisor to the prime minister, gave a rare interview to the Israeli outlet Haaretz, where he discussed Doha’s frustration with months of negotiation efforts. “Currently, every time we approach a deal or present new ideas, sabotage takes place,” he said, attributing blame to both parties for the breakdown of talks.
“We do not want to be manipulated to prolong this conflict,” he added. “We are reevaluating the commitment of both sides, and one of the primary reasons is the contradictory statements made by the parties themselves, which undermine their professed commitment to the talks.”
News Source:TheGuardian