Jordan's King Abdullah II has warned Antony Blinken that there will be “catastrophic consequences” if the war in Gaza continues.
At a meeting in Amman on Sunday, the Jordanian leader told the US Secretary of State that “the tragic humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip” must end.
Blinken is back in the region to speak with Arab leaders about a joint mission to curb the violence of the ongoing war between Israel and Gaza.
After quick visits to Greece, Turkey, Jordan and Qatar, Blinken will continue his visits later this week with stops in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, the West Bank, Egypt and Israel before returning to Washington.
In Doha, Qatar, America's top diplomat said Sunday during a press conference he gave together with Qatar's prime minister: The US rejects the plan by a handful of Israeli ministers to resettle Palestinian citizens elsewhere after the war.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken greets the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani
He added that foreign aid to Gaza must be increased immediately, but said there have been ongoing problems when it comes to delivering the aid packages to struggling Palestinians.
The handful of leaders, including King Abdullah II and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi of Jordan and Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani of Qatar, hope to come together to effectively contain the war, which could consume the region if it comes to an end. is handled incorrectly.
At the press conference, Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani conveyed the country's desire for stability in the region, which requires an immediate ceasefire, the release of the Israeli hostages and continued aid to Gaza.
He added that Gaza, which he called occupied territory, should be under the leadership of the Palestinians, but that the main goal at the moment is to prevent the spread of violence in the region.
Although Qatari leaders are currently paying lip service to a broad cooperation plan, Hamas leaders have been widely reported to be living in luxury hotels in Doha since the outbreak of the war, which followed the October 7 attacks on Israel.
In addition to emphasizing the need for more aid and fewer bombs in Gaza, Blinken discussed the need for maritime security in the Red Sea, where international shipments have been repeatedly disrupted by Houthi forces from Yemen.
He mentioned the US-led Project Prosperity Guardian, which, along with support from 20 other countries, aims to defend commercial shipping in the Red Sea.
Later this week, Blinken will continue his regional tour with stops in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, the West Bank, Egypt and Israel before returning to Washington. This is Blinken's fourth trip to the region since the Oct. 7 massacre.
King Abdullah II of Jordan and the rest of the royal family have been extremely vocal in their criticism of Israel since the start of the war – on Sunday Abdullah warned of the “catastrophic consequences” that will surely occur if the war does not end
Blinken walks with Qatar Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani
Qatar's Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani (R), receives Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi in Doha
Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamas al-Thani of Qatar shakes hands with Blinken during a round of strategic talks on the topic of the Israel-Gaza war
Blinken and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrrahman al-Thani arrive to brief the press in Doha on Sunday, January 7
Continued airstrikes in Israel continue to collapse the life structures in Gaza. Regional leaders emphasize the importance of dramatically increasing the amount of aid going to Gaza
Blinken also clarified that he has discussed to some extent what each Arab nation can do once this round of conflict ends, to “provide the guarantees and the incentives necessary to achieve a more secure, stable and peaceful future for the region to build. '
“We share the commitment to ensure that the conflict does not spread,” he said of the leaders he has met in recent days.
“And my conclusion from the discussion so far, including here with our friends in Qatar, is that our partners are willing to have these difficult conversations and make tough decisions. We all feel committed to finding a way forward.”
Israel has not agreed to a ceasefire, and the US has largely not pushed Netanyahu's government on this issue, instead advocating temporary humanitarian pauses in the fighting to allow aid.
A few weeks ago, Israel opened Kerem Shalom as a second entry point for aid to Gaza.
While in Crete, Blinken said, “These are not necessarily easy conversations. There are different perspectives, different needs, different requirements, but it is essential that we practice this diplomacy now, both in the interests of Gaza itself and more broadly in the interests of the future for Israelis and Palestinians and for the region as whole.'