CAIRO: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Thursday a major Israeli ground assault on the southern Gaza town of Rafah would be “a mistake” and unnecessary to defeating Hamas, underscoring the further souring of relations between the United States and Israel.
Blinken, on his sixth urgent Mideast mission since the war began, spoke after huddling with top Arab diplomats in Cairo for discussions over efforts for a ceasefire and over ideas for Gaza’s post-conflict future. He said an “immediate, sustained ceasefire” with the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas was urgently needed and that gaps were narrowing in indirect negotiations that US, Egypt and Qatar have spent weeks mediating.
Arab ministers, along with a Palestinian official, in Cairo briefed Blinken on their vision on the current situation in Gaza and the necessity of a ceasefire followed by a political settlement via the implementation of a two-state solution, a statement from the Egyptian Foreign ministry said.
The Cairo talks gathered Blinken with the foreign ministers of Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, as well as a top official from the Palestine Liberation Organization, the internationally recognized body representing the Palestinian people.
In a joint statement after a meeting earlier in the day, the Arab ministers called for “a comprehensive and immediate ceasefire” and the “opening of all crossings between Israel and the Gaza Strip.”
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan participated in a series of consultative ministerial meetings on the evolving situation in the Palestinian territories, Saudi Press Agency reported.
Ahead of visiting Israel on Friday, Blinken said he agreed with the ministers to gather experts in the coming days “to identify the urgent, practical and concrete steps that can and should be taken to increase the flow of assistance.”
“Israel needs to do more” on humanitarian aid, Blinken added.
Blinken will meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his war cabinet in Friday. The growing disagreements between Netanyahu and President Joe Biden over the prosecution of the war will likely overshadow the talks — particularly over Netanyahu’s determination to launch a ground assault on Rafah, where more than a million Palestinians have sought refuge from devastating Israeli ground and air strikes further north.
