US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has embarked on a significant visit to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, kicking off his Middle East tour aimed at engaging with Arab leaders on the Gaza situation.
According to reports from the World News Agency, Blinken’s itinerary includes meetings with counterparts from Qatar, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan.
A high-ranking official from the US State Department revealed that discussions during these meetings will cover various issues, including the aftermath of the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza, with a focus on the potential formation of a new government. Furthermore, Reuters reported Blinken’s intention to urge Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address the dire humanitarian conditions during his upcoming visit to Israel later this week.
Following these engagements, Blinken plans to meet with representatives from Arab and European nations to address the Middle East situation, particularly focusing on supporting the reconstruction efforts for Gaza’s devastated infrastructure.
It is noteworthy that discussions have been ongoing for several months regarding potential avenues for establishing a new government, with the aim of sidelining the Hamas administration in Gaza. However, reaching a consensus has proven challenging.
Meanwhile, Hamas has vehemently opposed any non-democratic solutions, asserting that the people of Gaza reject the idea of an imposed government. Hamas maintains its stance to abide by the will of the people in determining Gaza’s governance.
