Palestinians Hope Blinken’s Visit Can Bring Gaza Truce Before Rafah Assault, Reports Reuters

By Nidal al-Mughrabi and Humeyra Pamuk

DOHA/RIYADH – The top U.S. diplomat met with Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler on Monday during his Middle East visit, which Palestinians hope will lead to a truce before an anticipated Israeli assault on Rafah, a border city that is sheltering around half the population of the Gaza Strip.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Riyadh at the beginning of his first trip to the region since the U.S. negotiated a ceasefire offer, with Israeli input, aimed at bringing a prolonged halt to the ongoing conflict.

Blinken’s meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman lasted approximately two hours. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller reported that they discussed strategies for regional coordination to achieve “an enduring end” to the crisis. Miller emphasized the importance of addressing humanitarian needs in Gaza and preventing further escalation of the conflict.

As he returned to his hotel, Blinken did not respond to reporters’ inquiries. The ceasefire proposal, presented to Hamas by Qatari and Egyptian mediators, is pending a response from the militants, who seek more assurances that it will effectively end the war that has persisted for four months.

A senior U.S. official mentioned during the flight to Riyadh that it is currently uncertain if or when a breakthrough might occur, stating, “The ball right now is in Hamas’ court.”

Blinken is also working to secure support for U.S. plans regarding post-truce actions: rebuilding Gaza, managing the region, and eventually fostering a Palestinian state, which Israel currently opposes, along with encouraging Arab nations to normalize relations with Israel.

In light of ongoing tensions, Washington aims to prevent further instability in the Middle East following recent U.S. airstrikes against pro-Iranian armed groups in the area. Miller indicated that the urgent need to reduce regional tensions was a key topic of discussion between Blinken and the crown prince.

In London, British Defense Minister Grant Shapps informed parliament that the airstrikes had diminished the capabilities of Yemen’s Houthi rebels to target shipping in the Red Sea, although he noted that the threat has not been completely eliminated.

Israel has threatened a renewed ground offensive on Rafah, where over half of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents are currently residing, mostly in makeshift tents. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared during a visit to troops that Israeli forces had either killed or wounded more than half of Hamas’s fighting force and vowed to continue until achieving “total victory.”

Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri responded by criticizing Netanyahu for engaging in “delusional victories” despite ongoing resistance.

The proposed ceasefire aims for a minimum truce duration of 40 days, during which militants would release civilians among the hostages they are holding, followed by later stages for surrendering soldiers and the dead. The last ceasefire lasted only a week in November.

A displaced father of four, Yamen Hamad, expressed a common sentiment, stating, “We want the war to end, and we want to go back home, this is all that we want at this stage.” He added that they rely on small radios and the internet for news, hoping for decisive action from U.S. leaders.

In Gaza, Israeli tanks have been on the move for two weeks in Khan Younis, and fighting has again intensified in northern Gaza City, areas where Israel initially gained control during the war’s early stages. The Israeli military reported that they had killed dozens of Palestinian fighters across various regions within the last day.

As evening fell, residents in Khan Younis reported intensified shelling near Nasser Hospital, the largest operational medical facility in the south, igniting fires in nearby homes. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society stated that around 8,000 displaced individuals had been evacuated from their headquarters in Khan Younis and Al-Amal hospital, which had been surrounded by Israeli troops.

Palestinians described ongoing heavy combat in Gaza City, particularly in coastal areas under bombardment by Israeli warships. The U.N. agency for Palestinian aid, UNRWA, reported that a food convoy headed to Gaza City had come under fire, though there were no casualties.

UNRWA, a vital source of assistance, warned that it may have to suspend operations across the region this month due to funding withdrawals following Israeli allegations about some of its staff being involved in the initial attacks by Hamas that sparked the current conflict. UNRWA asserted it acted promptly to terminate staff following these allegations.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced the appointment of former French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna to lead an independent review of these allegations.

Gaza authorities report over 27,000 Palestinian casualties due to Israel’s military actions, with many more believed trapped under rubble. In contrast, Israel has reported that 226 of its soldiers have died since the conflict escalated after the October 7 attacks that left 1,200 individuals dead and 253 hostages taken.

The violence stemming from the Gaza war has also led to increased tensions in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, where Palestinians continue to seek statehood. On Monday, Israeli police reported the shooting of a knife-wielding assailant near a significant West Bank settlement, which resulted in the death of a 14-year-old Palestinian, according to the official Palestinian news agency.