Tom Bateman, State Department correspondent; Rushdie Abu Aruf, Gaza correspondent BBC News (Jeddah and Istanbul)
1 hour in the past
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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was greeted by Saudi officers upon arrival in Jeddah.
The US Secretary of State flew to the Middle East to debate postwar plans to control and safe Gaza.
Antony Blinken’s talks with Arab leaders from Saudi Arabia and Egypt will deal with what the United States calls “architectures for lasting peace.”
This comes after witnesses stated Israeli forces escalated operations and performed quite a few airstrikes round Gaza City’s al-Shifa hospital.
Earlier, the Israeli army stated it had killed 90 gunmen on the bottom since Monday.
Separately, oblique negotiations between Israel and Hamas proceed in Qatar towards a ceasefire and the discharge of hostages. But there are few indicators {that a} breakthrough is imminent.
Blinken arrived in Jeddah on Wednesday afternoon, marking his sixth go to to the area for the reason that begin of the warfare in Gaza, the place he met with Saudi leaders.
He stepped off the airplane simply earlier than sundown and was greeted by ready officers, together with Saudi Foreign Minister Mazin al-Himali, who hugged Blinken.
He is scheduled to fulfill with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed on the royal palace on Wednesday night time.
State Department spokesman Matthew Miller stated the 2 sides will talk about efforts to succeed in a cease-fire and improve assist provides to Gaza amid additional dire warnings concerning the scale of the humanitarian disaster there.
A United Nations-backed meals safety evaluation stated this week that 1.1 million folks within the Gaza Strip are affected by catastrophic starvation and famine, including that man-made hunger is imminent within the north between now and May. .
The agenda additionally contains “making certain that Hamas rule and the assaults of October 7 can’t be repeated, a political path for the Palestinian folks with safety with Israel, and constructions for the Palestinian folks. It may also embrace “coordination on post-war planning for Gaza.” Enduring peace and safety on this area,” Miller added.
Blinken will journey to Cairo on Thursday to fulfill with Egyptian leaders.
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Some 210,000 folks in northern Gaza face imminent starvation, in response to UN-backed evaluation
Although nothing has been developed but, the thought is believed to incorporate doable assist on the bottom from Arab nations, and all events, together with Israel, are dedicated to sustaining the long-held peace. They will work to pursue a two-state answer, which is a global components.
Saudi Arabia, a serious Arab sponsor, would normalize relations with Israel in alternate for entry to superior U.S. weapons and a U.S.-backed civilian nuclear energy program.
But even when such a multi-part plan might be agreed, U.S. officers acknowledge it will possible solely be achievable in the long run.
Some folks acquainted with the plan say the plan is tough, given the shortage of a breakthrough within the cease-fire settlement, the continuing humanitarian disaster and the shattered remaining belief between Israelis and Palestinians. Some admit that they’re bold. But the U.S. authorities hopes it might probably use this second to grab the initiative.
Blinken can also be scheduled to go to Israel on Friday as a part of the journey. Miller stated he’ll talk about hostage negotiations with Israeli leaders and “the necessity to make sure the defeat of Hamas, together with Rafah, in a approach that protects civilians.”
President Joe Biden has warned Israel that it will be a “mistake” to launch an assault on the southern metropolis of Rafah, the place greater than 1 million displaced civilians have taken refuge.
But Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Tuesday that Israel was “decided for full elimination.” [the Hamas] Rafah has a battalion and there’s no approach to do that with out a floor invasion. ”
More than 31,900 folks have been killed in Gaza for the reason that warfare started, in response to the area’s well being ministry, which is managed by Hamas and doesn’t distinguish between civilians and fighters.
The battle started on October 7 when Hamas attacked southern Israel, killing about 1,200 folks and taking 253 hostages, in response to Israeli tallies.
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Smoke is seen rising from Gaza City as Israeli forces proceed operations in and round Al Shifa Hospital
On Wednesday, heavy preventing continued on the bottom in Gaza by Israeli forces across the al-Shifa hospital for the third day.
Witnesses instructed the BBC that the tanks, which had beforehand been stationed across the hospital advanced, had been now transferring east alongside Al-Wada Street.
They additionally reported a major improve within the variety of airstrikes in Gaza City and different northern areas.
“I can hear relentless explosions coming from round Al Shifa Hospital,” stated Osama Tawfik, who lives 700 meters (2,300 ft) from the ability. “Since Monday morning, it feels just like the warfare has simply begun.”
Witnesses stated the assault focused the house of a Hamas member who was appointed as a member of a so-called “emergency committee” on behalf of the militant police.
Among them was Amjad Hatat, who was reportedly killed together with 11 different emergency committee members whereas securing the distribution of humanitarian assist on the Kuwait roundabout in Gaza City on Tuesday night time. .
Tawfik stated the state of affairs in his area had worsened after a interval of relative peace following the withdrawal of Israeli troops in mid-January.
“Not solely are we enduring bombing, however we’re additionally dealing with an impending meals disaster.”
“Last Ramadan, we had been capable of break our quick with meals, however now we’ve got water that smells like sewage and tastes like seawater, and we wrestle to search out something aside from a bit of bread. My youngsters are ravenous.”
A United Nations-backed meals safety evaluation stated 1.1 million folks within the Gaza Strip are affected by devastating starvation and famine, and that man-made hunger is imminent in northern Gaza between now and May.
On Wednesday morning, the Israeli army stated it had killed about 90 militants and interrogated 300 suspects in a “precision operation” in and round al-Shifa.
They first attacked the hospital in November, when the army accused it of being a “command and management heart” for Hamas, a declare denied by Hamas and hospital officers.
The army stated the operation was launched on Monday as a result of “senior Hamas terrorists have regrouped internally and are utilizing it to direct assaults in opposition to Israel.”
Hamas acknowledged {that a} senior commander in its inside safety forces was killed there on Monday, however stated he was coordinating the supply of aid provides. The different fatalities had been sufferers and evacuees who had taken shelter there.
The army stated it was taking measures to keep away from hurt to civilians and maintain hospitals functioning, however witnesses instructed BBC Arabic’s Gaza Today program that the state of affairs on the bottom was catastrophic. He stated the corridors had been crowded with civilians, together with medical employees.
“Children are dying of starvation and thirst and can’t cease crying… and the injured are struggling all night time for lack of medication and painkillers,” one of many displaced ladies stated on Tuesday, talking on situation of anonymity. Ta.
“Bulldozers are clearing the realm the place we’re staying and particles is flying over our heads in all places,” she added.
Additional reporting from London by David Gritten