ALBAWABA - US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was on his way to talks in crucial mediator Qatar on Wednesday, after Hamas responded to a US-led request for a truce in war-torn Gaza.
Blinken, who is on a four-country visit to the Middle East to persuade Hamas to accept the truce plan on the table, will meet with Qatar's senior leadership, which has sent messages to the Palestinian organization.
Responding to President Joe Biden's offer from May 31, Hamas laid out changes late Tuesday that included a deadline for a ceasefire and the total evacuation of Israeli soldiers from Gaza, according to a person familiar with the negotiations.
Prior to heading to Qatar, the US Secretary of State met with Jordan's King Abdullah II, stressing the urgent need to take serious steps toward the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza.
In the presence of Crown Prince Hussein, King Abdullah emphasized the importance of the United States in providing humanitarian help in Gaza, which is suffering dire conditions that need urgent and decisive action to avert further deterioration.
King Abdullah emphasized the necessity of building on the conference's accomplishments, citing the United States' extra support for Gaza and the West Bank.
He warned of the dangers of obstructing the work of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in Gaza, describing it as a lifeline for nearly 2 million Palestinians in the region, Ro'ya reported.
Al-Aqsa Flood operation against Israel
Hamas military group announced on Oct. 7 a military operation called "Al-Aqsa Flood" against Israel which is the biggest offensive in decades.
Palestinian fighters “infiltrated” Israel from the Gaza Strip and captured military bases and took hostages as photos and videos went viral online showing Hamas fighters on vehicles inside Israel and others paragliding into occupation territory.
In response, Israeli armed forces announced targeting Hamas positions inside the Gaza Strip. Thousands were killed, and dozens of thousands of others were injured in the Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip.
The latest statistics by the Ministry of Health in Gaza revealed that the death toll from Israeli brutal pounding on the Gaza Strip since October 7 has soared to 37,164+ people, with more than 84,832+ injuries.
Since then, approximately 85% of Gazans have been displaced, all of whom are suffering from severe food insecurity, and the healthcare system has collapsed. Hundreds of thousands of people lack shelter, and aid trucks are entering the area at a lower rate than before the conflict began.
