Amid a fresh crisis tour, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken touched down in Riyadh on Monday, intending to advance the elusive ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and expand humanitarian supplies into the Gaza Strip.
The senior US diplomat’s sixth trip to the area since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7th, which sparked an Israeli military campaign in Gaza, will also include stops in Jordan and Israel.
According to a State Department official, Blinken is anticipated to have fresh discussions about the possibility of normalizing relations with Israel while in Saudi Arabia.
The United States has attempted to maintain momentum by offering Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a lifelong opponent of Palestinian independence, the possibility of normalization to induce moderation.
Along with Blinken, other foreign ministers from the Gulf Arab and European countries will be in Riyadh for meetings at the World Economic Forum and the Gulf Cooperation Council.
According to a State Department official, Blinken will talk with the nations about “day-after” plans for rebuilding Gaza following the war. These plans might involve financing for reconstruction, as the great majority of Gaza’s population has been forced to flee, or assistance in setting up new government structures while Israel works to eradicate Hamas.
Blinken showed up several hours after Netanyahu and President Joe Biden had a phone conversation over ongoing negotiations to stop Israel’s offensive in the Gaza Strip in exchange for the release of hostages.
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