Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas told Antony Blinken there must be an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza war during a meeting with the top U.S. diplomat in the occupied West Bank on Sunday, according to Palestinian spokesman ‘Abbas, adding to a growing chorus of Arab leaders stressing the need for a truce as the death toll in Gaza approaches 10,000.
Mohammed Jamjoom, Al Jazeera’s correspondent from Ramallah, said the meeting lasted less than an hour – “much less time than expected” – and ended without a press conference or joint statement, likely indicating “substantial differences and disagreements” between the United States and the United States. Palestinian positions.
“One of the key words we heard from the Palestinian president is that (the Palestinians) seek a ‘cease-fire’…and demand that the United States seek a ‘cease-fire’ “, said Jamjoom.
“That’s one of the key differences…the United States has said it will continue to seek humanitarian pauses…it’s not looking for a ceasefire.”
The rising death toll in Gaza has subjected U.S. diplomatic efforts to greater scrutiny from its Arab allies, who are increasingly frustrated by the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the besieged Palestinian territory.
Israel, which continues its military offensive on Gaza, killed more than 50 people in air raids on Saturday evening.
At a press conference in Amman, Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi stressed that Arab countries want an immediate ceasefire, warning that “the entire region is sinking into a sea of hatred that will define generations to come.”
“We do not accept that this is self-defense,” Safadi said, referring to the month-long Israeli assault on Gaza that killed at least 9,488 Palestinians, including more than ‘a third were children.
“This cannot be justified under any circumstances and will not bring security to Israel or peace to the region. »
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, whose country is the only channel for foreigners to flee Gaza and for aid to enter, called for an “immediate and complete ceasefire.”
Rare public divide
In a rare public rift with his Jordanian counterpart, Blinken said the United States was against a ceasefire because it would give Hamas more room to maneuver.
“We believe now that a ceasefire would just leave Hamas in place, able to regroup and repeat,” which it did on Oct. 7, Blinken said, referring to the surprise attack on Hamas. group in southern Israel that killed some 1,400 Israelis, mostly civilians. , according to Israeli officials.
Blinken attempted to walk a diplomatic tightrope during his third visit to the region in a month, pushing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree to a temporary “humanitarian pause” and calling for the protection of Palestinian civilians, while confronting Arab leaders who are urging for a total ceasefire.
Blinken’s call for a “humanitarian pause” was deemed too weak by Arab leaders and rejected by Netanyahu, who insisted the Israeli offensive must continue with “full force.”
“I made it clear that we maintain all our forces and that Israel refuses a temporary ceasefire that does not include the release of our hostages,” Netanyahu said in a televised statement Saturday.
Israel apparently sent this message by bombing several United Nations-run schools and refugee centers during Blinken’s visit. The most recent – a strike on the al-Maghazi refugee camp in central Gaza early Sunday – killed at least 47 people.
“Yes to war”
Al Jazeera’s Alan Fisher, reporting from occupied East Jerusalem, said: “It’s clear there is dissatisfaction with the way the United States is handling this situation. »
“If this crisis continues, particularly (on) the humanitarian side, and if this crisis brings us back full circle to the old containment policy before October 7, I think that the American role here forgets the good or evil, but it will not be considered effective,” said Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the president of the United Arab Emirates.
Al Jazeera political analyst Marwan Bishara said Blinken’s calls for a “humanitarian pause” without a more serious push to rein in Israel were hollow.
“What does a humanitarian pause mean? » asked Bishara. “That means you give us a few minutes to start bombing again. How is this useful? How does this bring peace? How does this restore credibility? How will this end the bloodshed?
“When Blinken keeps saying ‘no ceasefire,’ he is saying ‘yes’ to war,” Bishara added. “Blinken has adopted and repeated the Israeli position that we will continue the war until the end. »
Meeting with Abbas
Blinken embarked on another diplomatic challenge Sunday as he met with Abbas in Ramallah, his first trip to the occupied West Bank since the start of the war.
The US State Department has remained tight-lipped about the visit, refusing to confirm it until Blinken has physically left the West Bank. Yet news of his arrival leaked, leading to protests against the visit and US support for Israel in the occupied territories.
Aside from joking, neither Abbas nor Blinken have been seen greeting each other on camera, nor have they made any public statements.
State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said Blinken reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to ensuring lifesaving humanitarian assistance and essential services to Gaza, and stressed that Palestinians must not be displaced by force.
Blinken and Abbas also spoke about efforts to restore calm and stability to the West Bank, including ending extremist violence against Palestinians, Miller said, referring to violence perpetrated by Israeli settlers.
Blinken had previously said the Palestinian Authority (PA) could play a future governance role in Gaza as a way out of the conflict, but it was unclear whether that topic figured in his discussions with Abbas.
Palestinian activist Fadi Quran told Al Jazeera that Blinken’s main mission was likely to “explain the US position of not calling for a ceasefire” to the Palestinian Authority, which itself is grappling with growing public discontent.
“The Palestinian Authority loses its legitimacy… It is therefore obliged to call for a ceasefire, at least publicly,” the Quran said.
Talks with Erdogan
After Blinken’s meeting with Abbas, he immediately traveled to Turkey to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who was rebuilding relations with Israel before the Gaza war.
Their ties appear to be deteriorating due to Erdogan’s fiercely pro-Palestinian stance and his warning of Israel’s wartime conduct.
“Netanyahu is no longer someone we can talk to. We have removed him,” Erdogan said on Saturday, quoted by Turkish media, as Ankara recalled its ambassador from Tel Aviv.
The Israeli Foreign Minister responded to this decision by saying that Erdogan had chosen to “side” with Hamas against Israel.
The decision of the Turkish government to recall its ambassador while the State of Israel is in the midst of a war of self-defense imposed by a terrorist organization worse than ISIS, is a new measure by the Turkish president who sides with the terrorist organization Hamas. … pic.twitter.com/uPsOKt0Huh
— Lior Haiat 🇮🇱 (@LiorHaiat) November 4, 2023