US Secretary of State Antony Blinken Met Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi Urgently. Addresses Middle East Crisis.
In a significant diplomatic effort to curb the escalating conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken embarked on his fourth visit to the region in three months. Here are the key points from his recent engagements:
Diplomatic Mission Highlights:
- Blinken met with Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi to garner support for US initiatives aiming to quell fears of the conflict expanding further across the region.
- Emphasis was placed on the urgent need for Israel to adjust its military operations to minimize civilian casualties.
- Jordan and other Arab states, critical of Israel’s actions, have refrained from endorsing long-term planning, insisting on an immediate ceasefire since mid-October.
Humanitarian Aid and Ceasefire Calls:
- Blinken visited the World Food Program’s warehouse in Amman, stressing the necessity to boost humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza.
- The UN Security Council passed a resolution on December 22, urging an immediate increase in aid deliveries. However, the flow of trucks into Gaza remains significantly below pre-war levels.
- Approximately 85% of Gaza’s population, over 2.3 million people, are heavily reliant on aid deliveries for survival.
Gaza Conflict Overview:
- The conflict erupted with Hamas’s October 7 onslaught, resulting in Israel launching an offensive against the terror group.
- Casualty figures from Gaza remain contested, with the Hamas-run health ministry reporting over 22,700 deaths, including both civilians and combatants.
- The humanitarian situation in Gaza is a cause for concern, with one in four Palestinians facing starvation and the rest grappling with crisis-level hunger.
Post-Conflict Planning:
- Blinken highlighted the importance of detailed plans for Gaza’s post-conflict future, acknowledging the need to address the aftermath of the prolonged war.
- Developments in Lebanon, northern Israel, the Red Sea, and Iraq have strained the US’s efforts to prevent a wider regional conflagration.
Upcoming Travel Plans:
- Following his engagements in Jordan, Blinken will travel to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates before heading to Saudi Arabia.
- The diplomatic mission will conclude with visits to Israel, the West Bank, and Egypt in the coming days.
As Blinken continues his diplomatic efforts, the international community closely watches for developments and hopes for a sustainable resolution to the Middle East crisis.