US' Blinken meets with several Arab counterparts in Amman

By Laith Al Junaidi

AMMAN, Jordan (AA) - US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Saturday met with several top Arab diplomats in Amman, Jordan to discuss ongoing developments in the Gaza Strip.

The meeting at an Amman hotel gave Blinken the chance to speak with foreign ministers of the United Arab Emirates, Abdullah bin Zayed, Saudi Arabia's Faisal bin Farhan, Qatar's Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Egypt's Sameh Shoukry, and Hussein Al-Sheikh, secretary-general of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization.

It is expected that Blinken, along with his Jordanian and Egyptian counterparts, will hold a press conference to discuss the outcome of the meeting.

Before meeting with Blinken, the top diplomats and Al-Sheikh met with Jordan’s King Abdullah, said the Jordanian Royal Court.

A statement said the king emphasized "the need to continue Arab coordination to speak with one voice to the international community on critical developments in Gaza."

"The duty of Arab nations is to put pressure on the international community and influential global powers to cease the war on Gaza, ensure a continuous flow of aid to the region, and protect civilians,'' the statement added.

The statement also reaffirmed "Jordan's condemnation of the massacres of innocent civilians in the Gaza Strip."

Abdullah warned that the war continuing “could lead to an escalation in the region."

He also condemned the Israeli escalation in the West Bank, stressing the "need for continued support for the Palestinian National Authority."

The Jordanian Foreign Ministry announced on Friday that Amman would host a joint meeting of Blinken with five of his Arab counterparts to reaffirm the "Arab stance" on achieving a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip and ensuring the delivery of aid to the region.

This week the Israeli army expanded its air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip, which has been under relentless airstrikes since a surprise offensive by the Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7.

At least 9,488 Palestinians, mostly children and women, have been killed in Israeli attacks since then, while the Israeli death toll has topped 1,500, according to official figures.

*Writing by Ziad Aslan in Ankara