Six Arab foreign ministers to meet with Blinken on Gaza war ceasefire efforts

CAIRO – 27 April 2024: The foreign ministers of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Qatar, and Palestine are set to hold talks with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday, the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

Secretary Blinken will embark on a two-day visit to Saudi Arabia on Monday and Tuesday, marking his latest trip to the Middle East aimed at discussing ongoing initiatives to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and facilitate the release of captives held by Hamas.

The six Arab ministers convened on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Riyadh on Saturday, where they discussed the joint mediation efforts of Egypt, Qatar, and the United States to halt the Israeli war in Gaza, according to the statement.

Egypt's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sameh Shoukry, reiterated his warning about the grave consequences of Israel's plans to launch a ground offensive in the Palestinian city of Rafah, emphasizing the disastrous humanitarian impact it would have on over 1.4 million Palestinians residing there.

He also emphasized the potential security implications for the stability of the region.

Meanwhile, the ministers expressed their strong rejection of any attempts to displace the Palestinian people from their lands and undermine the Palestinian cause.

They deliberated on means to implement the Arab vision for ending the ongoing war in Gaza, addressing its humanitarian consequences, and establishing a serious political framework to support the Palestinian cause.

Shoukry emphasized the necessity of implementing the two-state solution in accordance with international resolutions and legitimacy.

He further stressed the importance of international recognition of the state of Palestine and its full membership at the United Nations as a vital step towards supporting efforts to revive the peace process and implement the two-state solution.

In recent months, Egypt, the US, and Qatar have acted as mediators between Hamas and Israel in a bid to achieve a ceasefire deal that allows further aid delivery and secure the release of over 100 captives still held by Hamas.

Hamas is currently reviewing an Israeli counterproposal for a captive release and ceasefire agreement in Gaza, following discussions held by a high-level Egyptian delegation regarding an Egyptian proposal to halt the war.

According to Al Qahera News, the Egyptian proposal entails the release of 20-40 captives currently held by Hamas in Gaza, in exchange for Palestinian security prisoners serving lengthy sentences or who are elderly.

The Egyptian proposal includes a ceasefire and daily prisoner swaps throughout the truce period, as well as the suspension of a ground invasion in Rafah and the provision of adequate aid to Gaza.

The report indicates that the Egyptian truce proposal in Gaza also encompasses the establishment of a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders.

The relentless Israeli airstrikes since October 7 have resulted in the deaths of over 34,000 Palestinians, with more than 77,000 injured, plunging the region into one of the most severe humanitarian crises in the world.