US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Saudi Arabia on Monday as part of his ongoing efforts to address the crisis in the Middle East.
His main objective is to negotiate a new ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict, which shows no signs of abating in Gaza.
This is Blinken’s fifth visit to the region since the war was triggered by Hamas’s attack on October 7. After landing in Riyadh, he is expected to travel to Israel, Egypt, and Qatar.
Prior to his trip, Blinken emphasized the urgent need to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Aid groups have repeatedly raised concerns about the devastating impact of the war on the besieged territory, which has endured nearly four months of conflict.
“The situation is indescribable,” said Said Hamouda, a Palestinian who fled his home in the Gaza Strip to the southern city of Rafah on the border with Egypt.
Rafah, a city in Gaza, has become a place of immense suffering for its residents. The United Nations has described it as a “pressure cooker of despair.” This is because more than half of Gaza’s population has been displaced to Rafah as a result of Israel’s assault.
Recently, Israel has been moving further south towards Rafah, which is located near the densely populated border. They have warned that their ground forces may advance on Rafah as part of their mission to eliminate Hamas.
On Monday morning, sources reported hearing artillery shelling in eastern Rafah and Khan Yunis. Israel believes that high-ranking Hamas officials are hiding in these areas.
Tragically, the Israeli strikes overnight on Monday resulted in the deaths of at least 128 people, with the majority being women and children. This information was provided by the health ministry in the Hamas-controlled territory.
The Hamas government media office has stated that Israeli bombardment has continued in the central and southern parts of the coastal Strip, even near hospitals.
The Israeli military has reported that their troops have killed many terrorists while operating in the northern and central parts of the Gaza Strip. They are currently involved in clashes with Hamas militants in the Khan Yunis area.
In response, Hamas’s armed wing has claimed that their militants have attacked Israeli troops in the southwest of Gaza City.
Blinken is anticipated to talk about a suggested ceasefire that was negotiated during a meeting in Paris in January. The meeting involved high-ranking officials from the United States, Israel, Egypt, and Qatar.
