Antony Blinken, the US Secretary of State, has arrived in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as part of his visit to the Middle East.
During his time in Riyadh, Blinken is scheduled to have meetings with senior Saudi leaders and engage in a broader discussion with counterparts from five Arab states.
These states include Qatar, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan. The purpose of these meetings is to address the future governance of the Gaza Strip following the conclusion of the conflict with Israel.
Additionally, Blinken is expected to facilitate a dialogue between Arab countries and European states to explore ways in which Europe can contribute to the reconstruction efforts in Gaza, which has suffered extensive damage due to the prolonged Israeli bombardment.
Islamist fighters from the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched an attack on Israel on October 7, resulting in the deaths of 1,200 individuals and the capture of 253 hostages, as reported by Israeli sources.
In response, Israel initiated a complete blockade on Gaza, followed by a military offensive that has led to the deaths of over 34,000 Palestinians, according to health authorities in Gaza under Hamas control.
Discussions regarding the reconstruction and governance of Gaza have been ongoing for several months, but a definitive plan has yet to be established.
The United States supports Israel’s goal of eliminating Hamas and excluding them from Gaza’s future, but does not advocate for Israel to reoccupy the region. Instead, the U.S. is exploring the possibility of a reformed Palestinian Authority with backing from Arab nations.
Secretary Blinken will engage in talks with Saudi officials regarding a potential normalization agreement between Saudi Arabia and Israel, which would involve Washington providing Riyadh with defense and security commitments, as well as nuclear cooperation.
As part of the normalization process, Arab nations and the U.S. are pushing for Israel to agree to a framework for Palestinian statehood, a proposal that Prime Minister Netanyahu has consistently opposed.
Following his visit to Riyadh, Secretary Blinken will travel to Jordan and Israel, shifting the focus of discussions towards addressing the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza.
During his time in Amman, Secretary Blinken will meet with key Jordanian figures and humanitarian organizations to assess progress made and identify further actions needed, with plans to relay this information to Israeli authorities later in the week.
The U.S. State Department stated on Sunday that Blinken will be discussing the recent increase in humanitarian assistance being delivered to Gaza and emphasizing the importance of maintaining this increase.
This trip by Blinken to assess the humanitarian aid situation comes approximately a month after Biden issued a strong warning to Netanyahu, stating that Washington’s stance could change if Israel does not take action to address civilian harm, humanitarian suffering, and the safety of aid workers.
In recent weeks, senior U.S. officials have acknowledged Israel’s efforts to improve the humanitarian situation but have consistently emphasized that more needs to be accomplished.
During a phone call with Netanyahu on Sunday, Biden mentioned the Israeli preparations to open new border crossings into northern Gaza this week, where the risk of famine remains high, as stated in a White House release.
