Jeddah, 22 March 2024 (TDI): US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken met with Saudi and Egyptian officials of the two states on his sixth tour in the region since the beginning of the Gaza war in October 2022.
He met with Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Faisal bin Farhan. During the meetings with the Saudi officials, Blinken discussed the humanitarian conditions in Gaza.
Participants of the meeting agreed that military operations have to stop due to humanitarian security and humanitarian repercussions. Gazans are deprived of fundamental living conditions and their lives are at stake.
Also, officials discussed the importance of an immediate ceasefire and ending the Houthis attacks in the region. They discussed the establishment of the Palestinian state.
Blinken continued his tour in the Middle East in Egypt. He met with President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry there.
In the beginning, officials stressed the importance of establishing the Palestinian state with security guarantees to Israel. Blinken rejected the displacement of the Palestinian people and reiterated that the US does not support military operations in Rafah.
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Further, officials discussed the regional developments. Blinken unequivocally condemned the Houthi attack on the commercial ship threatening regional stability. Officials referred to regional security, addressing instability in Libya and ending the war in Sudan.
At the end of the meetings, Blinken expressed the US support for the government’s measure concerning the strengthening of Egypt’s economy.
Arab Talks to End Gaza War
After the meetings with the US Secretary of the State, Arab leaders hold a meeting in Cairo concerning the ongoing Gaza war.
The foreign ministers of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Jordan, as well as the Emirati minister of international cooperation and the Palestinian Authority minister for civilian affairs, attended the meeting.
Arab officials reiterated the necessity of a comprehensive and immediate ceasefire and opening of all crossings between Israel and Gaza. As well, they unequivocally rejected the displacement of Palestinian people from the Gaza Strip.
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