Blinken Meets Jordanian And Qatari Leaders To Keep Violence In Gaza From Spreading

Antony Blinken, U.S. Secretary of State, carried out another vital diplomatic tour of the Middle East, emphasizing the need for Arab allies' assistance in mitigating rising concerns about the broadening conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Blinken communicated the necessity for Israel to modify its approach to minimize civilian casualties and vastly increase the quantity of humanitarian aid to Gaza during his meetings with the Emir of Qatar and King of Jordan. His mission also includes stops in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Israel, the West Bank, and Egypt, marking his fourth trip to the region since the conflict began.

Blinken held meetings with Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi in Amman, followed by talks with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Doha. This was aimed at building support for U.S. endeavors to suppress fear that the Gaza conflict could escalate, increase aid, and plan for the conflict's eventual resolution. A statement from the Royal Court highlighted that King Abdullah warned about the severe consequences of the Gaza war while urging the U.S. to advocate an immediate ceasefire.

Arab states, including Jordan, have shown no public support for long-term planning due to their strong critique of Israel’s actions. They argue that fighting must end before initiating such conversations. They have been clamoring for a ceasefire since October as civilian casualties began to soar.

Blinken commended the work of the World Food Program (WFP) and other U.N. agencies, in collaboration with the Jordanian government, in their efforts towards providing aid to Gaza. The U.S. has persistently applied pressure on Israel to permit generous quantities of food, water, fuel, medicine, and other supplies into Gaza. The U.N. Security Council passed a resolution on Dec. 22 demanding an immediate increase in aid deliveries. However, the rate at which trucks enter has not significantly increased.

Blinken stated, during his visit to Greece, that his trip would largely consist of "not necessarily easy conversations" to discuss a path toward stable peace and security. He also expressed that his main objectives are to protect civilians, deliver more humanitarian aid to the region, prevent future attacks from Hamas, and create a strategy for a Palestinian-led form of governance and a secure Palestinian state.

The tour took place amidst tense conditions in Lebanon, northern Israel, the Red Sea, and Iraq following attacks by Hamas on Israel on October 7, which had sparked international criticism. The trip also coincided with disruptions in international trade, following increased attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea by Yemen's Houthi rebels, an Iran-backed group.