AMMAN: The foreign ministers of five Arab nations gathered in Jordan’s capital, Amman, on Saturday, for a crucial coordination meeting aimed at putting an end to the ongoing Israeli military offensive in the Gaza Strip.
The meeting included representatives from Jordan, Egypt, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia, along with Hussein Al-Sheikh, the secretary of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, according to an Anadolu news agency.
The meeting took place ahead of a meeting between Arab ministers and the United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken. The primary objective of these discussions is to reiterate the Arab stance, which emphasizes the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Additionally, the Arab nations are advocating for the unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid to the besieged Palestinian enclave, according to a Jordanian statement.
Israeli Brutalities Against Palestinians in Gaza
The Israeli military’s air and ground attacks on the blockaded Gaza Strip have intensified following a cross-border attack by the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas, on October 7. The escalation of violence has resulted in a devastating toll on the civilian population. According to official figures, at least 9,488 innocent Palestinians, including 3,900 children, have been martyred in Israeli attacks during this period.
The Arab states will press US Secretary of State Antony Blinken for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, as Washington is making efforts to persuade Israel to agree to temporary pauses in its attacks to allow in aid.
A day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu intentionally snubbed Blinken’s blunt warning that Israel risks losing any hope of an eventual peace deal with the Palestinians unless it eases the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the US Secretary of State met in Amman with senior Jordanian and other Arab officials, who remain angry and deeply suspicious of Israel as it intensifies its attacks in Gaza.
Blinken met first with Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati. Mikati emphasized the importance of working toward a ceasefire in Gaza and halting Israeli aggression in southern Lebanon, Lebanon state news agency reported.
