In an attempt to mediate a new ceasefire in Israel’s war on Gaza, which has persisted despite a ceasefire proposal, the United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Saudi Arabia on February 5, 2024 at the first spot of his fifth visit to the Middle-East since Israel launched its deadly war on Gaza. The United Nations reports that 60% of Gaza’s infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed and that 85% of the population is internally displaced due to the war, which is also causing severe shortages of basic necessities including food, drinking water and medical supplies.
According to the United States Department of State, “The US Secretary will continue diplomatic efforts to reach an agreement that includes a humanitarian pause that will allow for sustained, increased delivery of humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza.” In reality, over 28,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israel’s relentless bombing, the most of them being women and children. It is unfortunate that the United States has not openly condemned the ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people. The United Stated and its allies in the West are actually still unwilling to demand a ceasefire. It is important to understand that the situation in Gaza is not just a humanitarian crisis, but peace and stability in the region are also at risk. This will have an impact not only on the Middle East, but also for world geopolitics.
The ongoing Israeli war has exacerbated the position of Arab countries, as several countries have renewed diplomatic relations with Israel. At first, the majority of these nations reacted carefully, refraining from condemning Israel’s invasion. However, public outrage has put pressure on the governments, leading to a noticeable shift in their stance. Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan called a meeting in Riyadh with the foreign ministers of Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates, as well as Hussein al-Sheikh, the Secretary-General of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), after Blinken’s Middle East regional visit. According to Saudi state news agency SPA, the Arab ministers stressed “the importance of taking irreversible steps to implement the two-state solution, referring to Israeli recognition of a Palestinian state” and the necessity of an immediate and total ceasefire in Gaza. To conclude, the regional countries should abandon their biased support, demand a complete cease-fire in Gaza and begin advocating for a solution that reduces the sufferings caused by Israel. The international community, which positions itself as the champion of human rights, should call for an end to the Israel’s hostilities and acts of aggression and brutality in Gaza.
Research Associate, Pakistan House