GlobalWide News
The Financial Times: In a series of intense discussions with Antony Blinken, Arab diplomats, including Jordan’s foreign minister Ayman Safadi and Egypt’s foreign minister Sameh Shoukry, have pressed for the US to actively push for an immediate ceasefire to halt the violence in Gaza. Amidst ongoing fierce battles, regional allies have expressed profound discontent with the US’s support for Israel given the dire situation in Gaza.
Blinken had been expected to “brainstorm” with Arab diplomats the future of Gaza, home to 2.3mn Palestinians, after the war ends. Safadi bluntly rejected those talks as premature.
“How can we even entertain what will happen in Gaza when we do not know how Gaza will be left?” he asked Blinken. “Are we going to be talking about a wasteland? Are we talking about a whole population reduced to refugees?”
Netanyahu’s outright rejection of a “humanitarian pause” proposed by Blinken has exacerbated tensions. Arab leaders are demanding a ceasefire and increased humanitarian aid, with a focus on the future of Gaza and the plight of its population ahead of an important summit in Riyadh. Despite US calls for Israel to increase efforts to protect Palestinian civilians and discuss long-term solutions, including a two-state resolution, the Arab stance is clear: immediate action is needed to address the humanitarian crisis and halt the violence. There have been proposals for a maritime humanitarian corridor and other measures to facilitate aid delivery, but the situation remains critical with no breakthroughs yet.
The entire article can be read at the link https://www.ft.com/content/d301c852-6160-4be2-80b0-46b26c7066e5
