Blinken rebuffs Arab states’ push for immediate Israel-Gaza ceasefire

Arab leaders on Saturday called for an immediate ceasefire in the ongoing military offensive by Israel in Gaza. They urged US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to persuade Israel to halt its operations. However, Blinken argued that an immediate ceasefire would only allow the Palestinian militant group Hamas to regroup and launch another attack on Israel.

During a news conference in Amman, the foreign ministers of Jordan and Egypt, who were present with Blinken, consistently advocated for a cessation of hostilities. They argued that the death of thousands of civilians could not be justified as self-defence. They also declined to discuss the future of Gaza post the eradication of Hamas, insisting that the immediate focus should be on establishing a ceasefire.

Blinken is currently on his second trip to the region since the war between Israel and Hamas broke out on October 7. On that day, Hamas launched an attack on Israel from Gaza, which Israel claims resulted in the death of 1,400 people, with more than 240 others taken hostage. Since then, the Israeli army has launched air strikes on Gaza, imposed a siege, and initiated a ground assault, causing global concern about the humanitarian conditions in the enclave. Food is scarce and medical services are on the verge of collapse.