Challenges persist in US-Arab relations following Blinken's talks with regional partners in Jordan
Significant rifts persist between US and Arab allies following Blinken's talks in Jordan, over their divergent approaches towards Israel's conflict with Hamas
Sharp divisions continued between the United States and its Arab allies regarding their stance on Israel's conflict with Hamas. Secretary of State Antony Blinken engaged in discussions with his Middle Eastern counterparts in Amman, Jordan on Saturday. This meeting took place at a summit organized by the Jordanian Foreign Minister, with representatives from Egypt, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and the secretary general of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in attendance.
During the summit, Arab leaders urged for an immediate cessation of hostilities in Gaza, whereas Blinken reaffirmed the US stance, expressing concerns that it could provide Hamas with an opportunity to regather and launch a fresh assault on Israel.
Following the summit, the foreign ministers of Jordan and Egypt, who were present at the press conference alongside Blinken, reiterated their call for an immediate ceasefire and vehemently criticized the Israeli military operations in Gaza.
"The act of collective punishment, which includes Israel's deliberate targeting of innocent civilians, medical facilities, and paramedics, as well as its attempts to compel Palestinians to leave their own lands, cannot be justified as a legitimate form of self-defense," stated Sameh Shoukry, the Egyptian Foreign Minister.
In his discussions in Tel Aviv on Friday, Blinken once again urged Israel to do everything within its power to avoid causing harm to civilians.
The secretary of state has consistently lobbied for humanitarian pauses to ease the supply of fuel to the conflict-ridden area and facilitate the evacuation of civilians. During his meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the war cabinet on Friday, he urged Israeli officials to implement these pauses. However, mere hours later, Netanyahu publicly declined the idea, stating that he would not agree to a ceasefire or pause until the release of hostages held by Hamas.
Nevertheless, after his discussions in Amman, Blinken endeavored to highlight the areas of shared interest between the United States and its regional allies.
Blinken emphasized that all present at the gathering shared a common goal: putting an end to the conflict in a manner that guarantees enduring peace and security in the region. While acknowledging that there may be varying opinions and approaches regarding the necessary measures to achieve this objective, he stressed the participants' unwavering dedication to continued efforts towards this aim.
Furthermore, Blinken highlighted the unanimous agreement on the significance of utilizing individual influence and capabilities to prevent any state or non-state actor from initiating additional fronts or engaging in any other actions that would undermine stability in the conflict.
He emphasized the collective desire to enhance the provision of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
"We are genuinely troubled by the difficult situation faced by the civilians in Gaza, irrespective of age or gender," he expressed. "We have dedicated significant effort to ensure the smooth delivery of aid to them."
Israeli forces have urged civilians in north Gaza to evacuate due to the escalating military operations. According to US Special Envoy for Middle East Humanitarian Issues David Satterfield, around 800,000 to one million individuals have already moved from the northern area of Wadi Gaza to the southern region. This mass relocation has posed considerable difficulties for the humanitarian efforts.
Satterfield emphasized the importance of ensuring a continuous and secure flow of aid, not just from the Rafah crossing to Gaza, but also to areas in the south that require assistance. He stated that the United States is actively working towards creating practical agreements to guarantee the safety of aid workers during their relief efforts.
Although there has been significant progress in increasing the capacity to deliver aid, particularly in recent days, Satterfield underscored that the current rate of approximately 100 trucks per day is still insufficient.
The US acknowledges that the current flow of 100 to 120 trucks per day into Gaza is deemed sustainable, but it faces challenges due to the conditions in South Gaza," stated Satterfield. According to him, Gaza used to have an environment that allowed for the smooth movement of essential goods, such as cooking gas, cooking oil, and basic provisions. However, the current situation no longer permits this.
