Rafah Assault
On Monday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Saudi Arabia’s de-facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, marking the start of his Middle East visit. The trip is seen by Palestinians as a crucial opportunity to secure a truce ahead of a potential Israeli assault on Rafah, a border city where approximately half of the Gaza Strip’s population is seeking shelter.
Blinken’s visit follows Washington’s role in brokering an offer, in collaboration with Israeli input, for the first extended ceasefire in the ongoing conflict. The Secretary of State and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman engaged in a two-hour meeting, focusing on regional coordination to achieve a lasting resolution to the crisis.
According to State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller, discussions emphasized the importance of addressing humanitarian needs in Gaza and preventing the further escalation of the conflict.
Upon returning to his hotel, Blinken did not respond to reporters’ questions. The ceasefire proposal, delivered to Hamas by Qatari and Egyptian mediators, awaits a response from the militants, who are seeking additional guarantees for a conclusive end to the four-month-long war.
A senior US official, speaking during the flight to Riyadh, expressed uncertainty about the timing and potential breakthrough in the negotiations, stating, “It’s impossible to say if we’ll get a breakthrough, when we’ll get a breakthrough.
The ball right now is in Hamas’ court.” The situation remains fluid as diplomatic efforts continue, and the region awaits developments in the pursuit of a ceasefire and a resolution to the protracted conflict.
