AMMAN: A requirement by Jordan and Egypt for a right away ceasefire in Gaza was rejected by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken at an Arab international ministers assembly in Amman on Saturday.
Blinken mentioned {that a} truce could be counterproductive, and made clear the furthest he would go was assist for a humanitarian pause to permit the supply of help and the evacuation of civilians from the besieged enclave.
“It’s our view now {that a} ceasefire would merely go away Hamas in place, in a position to regroup and repeat what it did on Oct. 7,” Blinken advised a information convention after the talks, referring to the militant group’s assault on southern Israel that triggered the newest Gaza battle.
Overseas ministers of Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, UAE, Qatar, and a senior Palestinian official met with Blinken after holding a separate consultative assembly earlier and one other with Jordan’s King Abdullah.
The assembly was attended by Jordanian Overseas Minister Ayman Safadi and his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan, together with Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan from the UAE, Qatar’s Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, Egypt’s Sameh Shoukry, and Hussein Al-Sheikh from the Palestine Liberation Group.
In keeping with a Jordanian Overseas Ministry assertion, the assembly reaffirmed Arab requires an “rapid” ceasefire and “undisrupted” supply of aid help as a part of efforts to cease the warfare.
Talking at a joint press convention with Shoukry and Blinken, Safadi mentioned that “slaughter and warfare crimes must cease, and likewise the immunity given to Israel earlier than the worldwide legislation.”
He known as for “rapid” supply of help into Gaza and a halt to Israeli displacement of Palestinians, and likewise voiced alarm on the state of affairs within the occupied West Financial institution, the place “settlers are permitted to kill harmless Palestinians.”
Shoukry additionally raised issues over the mounting civilian toll in Gaza, describing it as “collective punishment,” and saying that “the slaughter of civilians can’t be justified in (any) phrases at the same time as self-defense.”
The Egyptian international minister known as for an “rapid ceasefire with none situation,” and mentioned that Israel wants to finish its violations of worldwide humanitarian legislation.
He additionally highlighted “double requirements” in coping with the mounting civilian toll, saying: “Arab blood isn’t any much less worthy.”
Blinken reaffirmed Washington’s assist for “humanitarian pauses” to make sure civilians obtain help.
The senior US envoy mentioned that he agreed along with his Arab counterparts on the necessity for help corridors, acknowledging that what has thus far entered Gaza is “insufficient.”
Requested why Washington is failing to exert strain to cease the killing of civilians, Blinken mentioned that “Israel has the precise to defend itself, but additionally to take means to make sure the safety of civilians and reduce hurt to them.”
He claimed Hamas “embeds itself” throughout the civilian inhabitants, and is utilizing civilian infrastructure as command facilities and for ammunition storage.
“However Israel has an obligation to defend civilians. That is what I advised the Israelis,” he mentioned.
Washington’s high diplomat mentioned that he’s saddened to see our bodies of youngsters pulled from the rubble in Gaza. “I’m a father and I’ve kids and I understand how it feels.”
Ending the press convention, Safadi mentioned: “Self-defense? How would you clarify this time period to a father who’s unable to guard his kids and discover shelter for them, not even in a refugee camp, a hospital or a UN group?”
Earlier than assembly Blinken, King Abdullah advised the international ministers “to keep up Arab coordination and communicate in a single voice to the worldwide neighborhood relating to the harmful escalations in Gaza.”
He added: “Arab states have the accountability of pushing the worldwide neighborhood and world powers to cease the warfare on Gaza, enable the uninterrupted supply of help, and shield civilians.”
The king warned that continued preventing would result in an “explosion within the area,” a press release mentioned.
The Jordanian ruler additionally urged fixed assist for worldwide aid organizations working in Gaza, particularly UNRWA.
He reiterated {that a} political resolution is required to attain simply and complete peace on the idea of a two-state resolution.