Leading representatives of Arab countries meet with the US Secretary of State in Jordan
In Jordan, Arab leaders renewed calls for a ceasefire in Gaza at a meeting with the American Secretary of State.
Top American diplomat Antony Blinken met with the prime minister of Lebanon and the foreign ministers of Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt.
“In Arab countries we demand an immediate ceasefire and an end to this war,” said Ayman Safadí from Jordan. He added: “We reject the description of the conflict as selfdefense.”
In a rare public show of dissent in diplomatic circles, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken reiterated the United States’ position: “We believe that a ceasefire now would simply give Hamas terrorists a chance to regroup and carry out the attack on September 7.” To be repeated in October.”
Instead of a ceasefire, the US is calling for a humanitarian pause. The difference is that the humanitarian pause is shorter and focused on specific areas of the territory. From the American perspective, this would result in aid reaching the population of Gaza without Hamas benefiting. But the Israeli government opposed this option.
On Friday (3), Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that there could be no temporary ceasefire without the release of the hostages held by Hamas.
Earlier, American Middle East humanitarian envoy David Satterfield reported that the UN refugee agency had access to a fuel depot in Gaza that can be used in trucks transporting humanitarian aid, in hospitals and in seawater desalination stations.
Israel accuses Hamas of stockpiling fuel for war. Satterfield also said there were no reports that Hamas terrorists attempted to divert food, water and medicine through the Rafah crossing.
This Saturday (4), injured Palestinians and foreigners were prevented from crossing the Gaza border towards Egypt. American government sources said Hamas added the group’s fighters to the list of people allowed to cross the Rafah crossing, delaying negotiations on the evacuation of civilians from Gaza.