Blinken starts Mideast tour in Saudi Arabia to press for truce
The diplomatic push has become more urgent with a surge in attacks across the region by groups in solidarity with Palestinians
Published: 05:02 PM,Feb 05,2024 | EDITED : 09:02 PM,Feb 05,2024
Palestinians wait to receive food cooked by a charity kitchen amid shortages of food supplies, in Rafah. — Reuters
GAZA: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Saudi Arabia on Monday for another Middle East crisis tour, hoping to secure a new truce in the war as Gaza saw no let-up in fighting.
On his fifth trip to the region since October 7 attack that triggered the war, Blinken landed in Riyadh and was later expected to visit Israel, Egypt and Qatar.
Ahead of the trip he stressed the need for 'urgently addressing humanitarian needs in Gaza', after aid groups have repeatedly sounded the alarm over the devastating impact nearly four months of war have had on the besieged territory.
'The situation is indescribable,' said Said Hamouda, a Palestinian who fled his home in the Gaza Strip to the southern city of Rafah on the border with Egypt.
Dubbed a 'pressure cooker of despair' by the United Nations, Rafah now hosts more than half of Gaza's population, displaced due to Israel's assault.
Over the weekend, Israel pressed further south towards the densely-crowded border city, warning that its ground forces could advance on Rafah as part of the campaign to eradicate Palestinian groups.
On Monday morning, sources said that they could hear artillery shelling in the areas of eastern Rafah and Khan Yunis, where Israel believes high-ranking officials are hiding.
At least 128 people, mostly women and children, were killed in Israeli strikes overnight to Monday, according to the health ministry in the territory.
The government media office said Israeli bombardment had continued across the centre and south of the coastal Strip, including near hospitals.
Blinken is expected to discuss a proposed truce thrashed out in a Paris meeting in January of top US, Israeli, Egyptian and Qatari officials.
The diplomatic push has become more urgent with a surge in attacks across the region by groups in solidarity with Palestinians, triggering counterattacks by the United States.
The proposed truce would pause fighting for an initial six weeks as groups free captives in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, according to a Hamas source.
Hamas has said no agreement has yet been reached, while some Israeli officials have expressed opposition to any perceived concessions.
Vowing to eliminate Palestinian groups in Gaza, Israel launched a massive military offensive that has killed at least 27,478 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the territory's health ministry.
Before departing for the region, Blinken said the humanitarian crisis would be one of his focuses.
'Urgently addressing humanitarian needs in Gaza and advancing stability in the Middle East are priorities we share with Saudi Arabia,' Blinken said he told Saudi foreign minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan. — AFP
On his fifth trip to the region since October 7 attack that triggered the war, Blinken landed in Riyadh and was later expected to visit Israel, Egypt and Qatar.
Ahead of the trip he stressed the need for 'urgently addressing humanitarian needs in Gaza', after aid groups have repeatedly sounded the alarm over the devastating impact nearly four months of war have had on the besieged territory.
'The situation is indescribable,' said Said Hamouda, a Palestinian who fled his home in the Gaza Strip to the southern city of Rafah on the border with Egypt.
Dubbed a 'pressure cooker of despair' by the United Nations, Rafah now hosts more than half of Gaza's population, displaced due to Israel's assault.
Over the weekend, Israel pressed further south towards the densely-crowded border city, warning that its ground forces could advance on Rafah as part of the campaign to eradicate Palestinian groups.
On Monday morning, sources said that they could hear artillery shelling in the areas of eastern Rafah and Khan Yunis, where Israel believes high-ranking officials are hiding.
At least 128 people, mostly women and children, were killed in Israeli strikes overnight to Monday, according to the health ministry in the territory.
The government media office said Israeli bombardment had continued across the centre and south of the coastal Strip, including near hospitals.
Blinken is expected to discuss a proposed truce thrashed out in a Paris meeting in January of top US, Israeli, Egyptian and Qatari officials.
The diplomatic push has become more urgent with a surge in attacks across the region by groups in solidarity with Palestinians, triggering counterattacks by the United States.
The proposed truce would pause fighting for an initial six weeks as groups free captives in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, according to a Hamas source.
Hamas has said no agreement has yet been reached, while some Israeli officials have expressed opposition to any perceived concessions.
Vowing to eliminate Palestinian groups in Gaza, Israel launched a massive military offensive that has killed at least 27,478 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the territory's health ministry.
Before departing for the region, Blinken said the humanitarian crisis would be one of his focuses.
'Urgently addressing humanitarian needs in Gaza and advancing stability in the Middle East are priorities we share with Saudi Arabia,' Blinken said he told Saudi foreign minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan. — AFP