In the face of heightened pressure from the United States and influential Middle East nations, Israel is being called upon to ease its ongoing offensive in Gaza. The U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, arrived in Tel Aviv after engaging in discussions with Arab leaders during his regional tour. His goal is to prevent the escalating conflict, now in its fourth month, from expanding into a broader crisis.
Blinken, who held talks in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, spoke with reporters following his meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Al Ula. He expressed Arab leaders’ support for normalizing relations with Israel but emphasized the necessity of ending the conflict in Gaza and establishing a practical pathway to a Palestinian state.
The Saudi Crown Prince, a key figure in the rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Israel before the conflict erupted, stressed the urgency of halting hostilities in Gaza and working towards a lasting peace. Saudi news agency SPA reported his emphasis on restoring stability and ensuring the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.
Meanwhile, back in the United States, President Joe Biden faced protesters urging an immediate ceasefire during his visit to a church in Charleston, South Carolina. Biden acknowledged working “quietly” with the Israeli government to encourage a reduction in attacks and a significant withdrawal from Gaza. Despite his historical support for Israel, Biden had previously criticized the bombing campaign as “indiscriminate.”