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☆ Washington’s Arab allies engage with Iran as US efforts to stem Middle East violence falter
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-22 | by ( Mostafa Salem | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Abu Dhabi, UAE CNN —Growing unease over the United States’ inability to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East is prompting some of Washington’s closest Arab allies to significantly increase engagement with its primary regional adversary: Iran. Arab nations that had spent decades brawling with Iran for regional influence are now opting to engage with it again. Despite seeing an opportunity to weaken Iran’s regional influence, Arab nations are now signaling neutrality. “The Gulf (Arab) monarchies’ priority is not to be directly involved in a proper regional conflagration. Still, regional states rely heavily on their military relationship with the US.

Persons: State Anthony Blinken, Yahya Sinwar, Israel, Blinken’s, Hassan Nasrallah, Ismail Haniyeh, Prince Mohamed bin Salman, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Hitler, ”, Abbas Araghchi, Jordan’s King Abdullah II, Abdel Fattah Al, ” Araghchi, Crown Prince Sabah, Cinzia Bianco, ” Kuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh, ” Kuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al, Hamad Al, ” Hasan Alhasan, Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, “, ” Anwar Gargash, Joe Biden’s, Abu, ” Bianco, Jake Sullivan Organizations: UAE CNN, State, Saudi Arabia’s, Iranian, Saudi, Bahraini, Crown, CNN, European Council, Foreign Relations, ” Kuwaiti Crown, Kuwait News Agency, Reuters, Middle, International Institute for Strategic Studies, Israeli, United Arab Emirates, US, US National, Atlantic Festival Locations: Abu Dhabi, UAE, United States, Washington’s, Iran, Republic, Israel, Gaza, Lebanon, Tehran, Riyadh, Tehran’s, Amman, Egypt, Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, Cairo, Doha, Muscat, Manama, Crown Prince, Crown Prince Sabah Al, Sabah, Kuwait City, Islamic Republic, ” Kuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Saudi, Washington, Yemen, China, Washington ,

But Widodo appointed Subianto as defense chief after his reelection, paving the way for an alliance despite their rival political parties. Backed by Widodo, Subianto swept to a landslide victory in February’s direct presidential election on promises of policy continuity. Subianto was sworn in with his new vice president, 37-year-old Surakarta ex-Mayor Gibran Rakabuming Raka. Leaders and senior officials from more than 30 countries flew in to attend the ceremony, including Chinese Vice President Han Zheng and leaders of Southeast Asia countries. Indonesia is a bastion of democracy in Southeast Asia, a diverse and economically bustling region of authoritarian governments, police states and nascent democracies.

Persons: Prabowo Subianto, Subianto, Prabowo, Gibran, ”, Atalaric Eka, “, Joko Widodo, Widodo, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Raka, don’t, Jordanian King Abdullah II bin Al, Hussein, Nancy Namrouqa, Abdullah, Han Zheng, Joe Biden, Linda Thomas, Greenfield, Adm, Samuel Paparo, ” Subianto, Suharto Organizations: Widodo, Southeast Asia —, Foreign, U.S, United Nations, Pacific Command, American, Army Locations: JAKARTA, Indonesia, Jakarta, Surakarta, Southeast Asia, Jordan, Jordanian, Amman, Gaza, Subianto, Asia, United States, China, U.S, Australia, Indonesian, Borneo

The mysterious veil of the Treasury monument in Petra, Jordan, has been lifted once again. Beneath the ancient rock-cut building, archaeologists have uncovered a hidden tomb containing 12 relatively well-preserved human skeletons along with an extensive array of grave offerings. From left: Prof. Richard Bates, excavations at the Treasury. Courtesy of Professor Richard Bates / University of St. AndrewsInside were 12 human skeletons at their original burial site, including one grasping the top part of a broken jug that most likely dates to the first century BC. The discovery could provide new insight into the Treasury, whose purpose remains unknown, as well as the Nabatean people.

Persons: Al Khazneh, ” Richard Bates, Bates, Richard Bates, ” Bates, Steven Spielberg’s, Indiana Jones, ” Organizations: Treasury, UNESCO, University of St, NBC News, Jordanian Department of Antiquities, American Center of Research, Discovery Locations: Petra, Jordan, Nabatean Kingdom, Andrews, Scotland, American, Amman

“Hamas could have answered with a single word – yes,” he said. “It’s time for the haggling to stop and a ceasefire to start. Hamas submitted its reply to the multi-phased ceasefire and hostage release proposal to mediators on Tuesday. According to a senior State Department official, Blinken, who was in Amman at the time, dispatched two of the senior staff traveling with him to retrieve Hamas’ response from Egyptian Intelligence Chief Abbas Kamel, who was also in the Jordanian capital. Izzat al-Rishq, a member of the Hamas political bureau, described their response as “responsible, serious and positive.”CNN’s Becky Anderson, Hamdi Alkhshali and Benjamin Brown contributed to this report.

Persons: Antony Blinken, ” Blinken, ”, “ Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, “, Jake Sullivan, ’, Israel, Blinken, Abbas Kamel, ” CNN’s Becky Anderson, Hamdi Alkhshali, Benjamin Brown Organizations: CNN, US National, UN, State Department, Egyptian Locations: Gaza, Doha, Israel, ”, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Amman, Jordanian, Izzat

☆ I'm a Palestinian startup founder. I wanted to do my part for my home country, but now we have to leave.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Charissa Cheong | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

The Palestinian startup sceneOur business is based in Ramallah, where Raya lives. If starting a company in Ramallah could benefit the community by creating jobs and further building on the small startup scene there, we wanted to try. When "The Middle Frame" goes through a hard time in the future, we can look back at that screenshot. In the future, when our business is stable in a different market, we could maybe have a smaller operation in the Palestinian market. The Palestinian startup ecosystem needs more examples of successful startups in the wider region to support the startups in Palestine and more investment bodies to support the early-stage startups.

Persons: Mohammad Alnobani, Alnobani, —, We'd, Raya, creatives, We're, I'd, I've, We've, Raya's, we've, it's Organizations: West Bank, Hamas, Service, Young, Palestine, Israel, Getty, UAE Locations: Gaza, Alnobani, Ramallah, Palestinian Territories, Amman, Jordan, Jerusalem, Belfast, Palestinian, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Nablus, Qatar, London, Boston, East, North Africa, it's, Egypt, Europe, Ramallah —, Dubai, Jordanian, Iran, UAE, Palestine

☆ Jordan walks a tightrope after downing Iranian drones and missiles
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Jomana Karadsheh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Jordan became the second Arab country to sign a peace deal with Israel in 1994. The kingdom was portrayed as shielding Israel at a time when Palestinians were being bombed by Israel in Gaza. One meme shared by users apparently outside Jordan showed a manipulated image of Jordan’s King Abdullah in an Israeli military uniform. “We are in the range of fire and any missiles or projectile that could fall in Jordan would cause harm to Jordan. Our priority is to protect Jordan and to protect Jordanian citizens.”And Jordan’s leadership seems intent on sending that message to its people.

Persons: Saddam Hussein, Jordan, Israel, King Abdullah, Bisher, “, Ayman Safadi, CNN’s Becky Anderson, ”, Safadi, “ Jordan, Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyaahu, Iran ”, Abdullah, Queen Rania Organizations: CNN, Israel, West Bank, Scud, United, Sunday, ”, Jordan, Zionist, Jordanian Royal Court Locations: Amman, Israel, Damascus, Iraq, Iran, Syria, Jordanian, United States, Jordan, Gaza, Tehran, Fars, Iranian, Mafraq

☆ Arab states unexpectedly helped Israel fight off Iran's attack
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-15 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Jordan shot down an Iranian missile, and other Arab states may've provided intel. In March, Saudi Arabia and Iran restored ties with the help of China, agreeing to reopen embassies in their respective capitals. AdvertisementHowever, according to reports, Saudi Arabia and other Arab states are willing to continue discussions with Israel once fighting in Gaza has abated. There is a risk for Arab states though in being seen to come to Israel's aid, Giorgio Cafiero, CEO of Gulf State Analytics, told Business Insider. AdvertisementAs the conflict between Israel and Iran intensifies, Arab states face a tough choice between their security priorities and addressing public anger over Gaza.

Persons: Israel, Jordan, may've, —, Samih, Marj Al, Yasmine Farouk, Farouk, Abraham, Trump, Israel's, Giorgio Cafiero Organizations: intel, Service, Deutsche Welle, St, Anadolu, Getty, Israel, Carnegie Endowment, International Peace, New York Times, Abraham Accords, Analytics Locations: Iranian, Israel, Iran, Damascus, Jordan, Gaza, Jordanian, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Gulf, Marj, Amman , Jordan, China, Bahrain, Amman

☆ Live updates: Israel-Hamas war, two Israeli hostages rescued as dozens of Palestinians killed in Rafah
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-12 | by ( Kathleen Magramo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Mahmoud Abbas during a meeting in Amman, Jordan, on October 17, 2023. Jacquelyn Martin/AP/FilePalestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas arrived on Sunday in Doha, Qatar, which has been a key mediator in the negotiations between Israel and Hamas. The Palestinian Authority is a government body with limited self-rule in the West Bank. The visit comes as CIA director Bill Burns is expected to travel to Cairo for a Tuesday meeting to push for a hostage release deal, according to two sources familiar with the plans. One of the sources said Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani and Israel's Mossad Director David Barnea are also expected to be in attendance.

Persons: Mahmoud Abbas, Jacquelyn Martin, Abbas, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Bill Burns, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman, David Barnea Organizations: Palestinian, West Bank, Qatari Locations: Amman, Jordan, Doha, Qatar, Israel, Cairo, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al, Thani

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Three American service members were killed and “many” were wounded in a drone strike in northeast Jordan near the Syrian border, President Joe Biden said in a statement Sunday. U.S. Central Command said 25 service members were injured the attack in addition to the three killed. Political Cartoons View All 253 ImagesSome 3,000 American troops typically are stationed in Jordan. The attack on Jordan marks the first targeting American troops in Jordan during the war and the first to result in the loss of American lives. ___Associated Press writers Bassem Mroue in Beirut, Omar Akour in Amman, Jordan and Jon Gambrell in Jerusalem contributed to this report.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Muhannad Mubaidin, Lloyd Austin, Jake Sullivan, Jon, Karine Jean, Pierre said, ”, Bassem Mroue, Omar Akour, Jon Gambrell Organizations: COLUMBIA, American, West Bank, . Central Command, Defense, White, Lebanese, Hezbollah, Hamas, Associated Press Locations: Jordan, Syrian, Iran, U.S, Iranian, Israel, Gaza, United States, Jordanian, Syria, Jordan . U.S, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Red, Columbia , South Carolina, Western, Jerusalem, Palestine, Beirut, Amman

☆ Jordan's King Abdullah says world should condemn any attempt to forcibly expel Palestinians
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Suleiman Al-Khalidi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Royal Hashemite Court/Handout via Reuters Acquire Licensing RightsAMMAN, Dec 5 (Reuters) - Jordan's King Abdullah said on Tuesday the world should condemn any attempt by Israel to create conditions that would forcibly displace Palestinians within the war-devastated Gaza Strip or outside its borders. UNRWA officials say only a trickle of the aid the enclave needs is getting through the Rafah border crossing with Egypt which NGOs and officials say can only handle a fraction of the needs. King Abdullah told Christodoulides there would be dangerous consequences from any attempt to forcibly push Palestinians en masse from their land while it maintained security control, officials said. It could create circumstances that could encourage Israel to forcibly push tens of thousands of Palestians across the Jordan River. Officials say the forcible expulsion of Palestinians would amount to a declaration of war and prompt Jordan to suspend its peace treaty with Israel.

Persons: King Abdullah II, Crown Prince Hussein, Nikos Christodoulides, King Abdullah, Abdullah, Israel, Christodoulides, Jordan, Amman, Israel's, Sufain Qudah, Suleiman Al, Khalidi, Alex Richardson, Angus MacSwan Organizations: Crown, Cyprus, Royal Hashemite, Reuters Acquire, Rights, Cypriot, Western, West Bank, Foreign Ministry, Thomson Locations: Amman, Jordan, Israel, Gaza, Rafah, Egypt, East Jerusalem

Media affiliated to Hamas said explosions and gunfire could be head in the northern part of the Gaza Strip ahead of the truce deadline. Reuters could not immediately confirm the report and there was no immediate comment from Israel or Hamas. Mark Regev, an adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said Israel was open to continuing the ceasefire if Hamas committed to further hostage releases. Israel had previously set the release of 10 hostages a day as the minimum it would accept to pause its assault. [1/5]A helicopter carrying hostages released amid a hostages-prisoners swap deal between Hamas and Israel arrives at Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan, Tel Aviv district, Israel, December 1, 2023.

Persons: Israel's Kan, Israel, Mark Regev, Benjamin Netanyahu, we're, Athit, Qatar's, Abdullah Al Sulaiti, I've, Mia Schem, Schem, Aisha al, BLINKEN, Jordan's King Abdullah, U.N, Antony Blinken, Blinken, Netanyahu, Nidal al, Mohammed Salem, Humeyra Pamuk, Ari Rabinovich, Emily Rose, Andrew Mills, Cynthia Osterman, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: Gaza Hamas, Hamas, Media, Street, CNN, United Nations, Sheba Medical, REUTERS, Reuters, Palestinian Red Crescent Society, U.S, Thomson Locations: Israel, Gaza, Gaza GAZA, TEL AVIV, Qatari, Palestinian, Ramat Gan, Tel Aviv district, ISRAEL, Amman, United States, Tel Aviv, Cairo, Jerusalem, Doha

[1/4] Jordan's King Abdullah II hosts an international conference attended by the main U.N. bodies and regional and international relief agencies to coordinate humanitarian aid to war-devastated Gaza, in Amman, Jordan November 30, 2023. With Israel refusing to allow any aid in through its borders, supplies have been flown and driven into Egypt's Sinai Peninsula for delivery to Gaza through the Rafah crossing. Israel has bombarded Gaza in response to an Oct. 7 rampage into southern Israel by Hamas militants who killed some 1,200 people and took more than 200 hostage. Israel had previously called for increasing the amount of aid taken into Gaza from Egypt, including shipments provided by Jordan, said the official, who requested anonymity. Bottlenecks and capacity limitations at the Rafah crossing mean it cannot handle more than 200 trucks a day.

Persons: King Abdullah II, King Abdullah, U.N, Israel, Gazans, confidentially, Christos Christou, Jordan, Martin Griffiths, Juliette Touma, Suleiman Al, Sarah El Safty, William Maclean, Grant McCool Organizations: Royal Hashemite, Reuters Acquire, Red Crescent, Reuters, Trucks, United Nations, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Amman, Jordan, Israel, AMMAN, RAFAH, Egypt, U.N, Rafah, Al Arish, Sinai, Nitzana, Awja, Gaza's, United, Khalidi

All have been hit by a boycott campaign over Israel's military offensive in the Gaza Strip since the deadly Hamas attack in southern Israel on Oct. 7. Western brands are feeling the impact in Egypt and Jordan, and there are signs the campaign is spreading in some other Arab countries including Kuwait and Morocco. Videos have circulated of what appear to be Israeli troops washing clothes with well-known detergent brands which viewers are urged to boycott. In Kuwait City on Tuesday evening, a tour of seven branches of Starbucks, McDonald's and KFC found them nearly empty. Previous boycott campaigns in Egypt, the Arab world's most populous nation, had less impact, including those advocated by the Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement.

Persons: Mohamed Abd, Reham Hamed, Ahmad al, McDonald's, Jordan, Hossam Mahmoud, Sameh El Sadat, executive's, Issam Abu Shalaby, Farah Saafan, Sarah El Safty, Mai ShamsElDin, Suleiman Al, Ahmed Hagagy, Jonathan Spicer, Aidan Lewis Organizations: Hamas, REUTERS, Gaza, U.S, Kuwait City, McDonald's, KFC, McDonald's Corp, Reuters, BDS, Starbucks, TBS Holding, Malaysian, Cola, Nestle, Turkish, Israel, United Arab, Thomson Locations: Kentucky, Egypt, Gaza, Israel, Palestinian, Cairo, CAIRO, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Amman, Rabat, BDS Egypt, Egyptian, Malaysia, Putrajaya, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Tunisia, Khalidi, Danial Azhar, Kuala Lumpur, Kuwait City, Istanbul

☆ Jordan minister doubts Israel can wipe out Hamas
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-18 | by ( Alexander Cornwell | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi attends a joint press conference with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (not pictured) and Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry (not pictured), in Amman, Jordan November 4, 2023. REUTERS/Alaa Al Sukhni/FIle Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMANAMA, Nov 18 (Reuters) - Jordan's foreign minister said on Saturday that he did not understand how Israel's goal of obliterating the Palestinian militant group Hamas it is fighting in Gaza could be achieved. "Israel says it wants to wipe out Hamas. We'll do whatever it takes to stop it" said Safadi at the IISS Manama Dialogue security summit in Bahrain. The Israel-Hamas war has reawakened long-standing fears in Jordan, home to a large population of Palestinian refugees and their descendants.

Persons: Ayman Safadi, Antony Blinken, Sameh Shoukry, Al Sukhni, Jordan, Alexander Cornwell, Andrew Gray, Kim Coghill, Michael Georgy, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: Jordanian, U.S, Foreign, REUTERS, Rights, West Bank, Thomson Locations: Amman, Jordan, Rights MANAMA, Gaza, Israel, Manama, Bahrain, The Israel

Israel is preventing some Palestinian Americans from entering the country from the West Bank, an apparent violation of a recent agreement in which citizens from the United States and Israel can travel to the other nation without a visa. The Homeland Security and State Departments, which manage the program, said American officials were trying to resolve the issue. At the time, President Biden was making a push to broker a diplomatic deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia. Under the visa waiver program, Israel would lift restrictions on Palestinian Americans and other Americans of Arab or Muslim descent, easing the way for them to travel to and from Palestinian territories. For decades, Palestinian Americans have faced difficulties traveling to the Israeli-occupied West Bank to see family and friends or to do humanitarian work.

Persons: ”, Erin Heeter, Biden Organizations: West Bank, Homeland Security, State, Department of Homeland Security, Palestinian, Queen Alia International Locations: Israel, United States, Ben, Gurion, Saudi Arabia, Palestinian, Jordan, Amman, Tel Aviv

Nov 12 (Reuters) - The United States carried out two air strikes in Syria against Iran and its aligned groups on Sunday, the Pentagon said, in the latest response to a series of attacks against American forces in Syria and in Iraq. "The President has no higher priority than the safety of U.S. personnel, and he directed today's action to make clear that the United States will defend itself, its personnel, and its interests," Austin said in a statement. Iran and its supporters say the United States shares responsibility for Israel's declared war against Palestinian militant group Hamas, which is also backed by Iran. U.S. and coalition troops have been attacked at least 40 times in Iraq and Syria by Iran-backed forces in recent weeks. The measures include increasing U.S. military patrols, restricting access to base facilities and boosting intelligence collection, including through drone and other surveillance operations, officials say.

Persons: Lloyd Austin, Albu Kamal, Joe Biden, Austin, Israel's, Phil Stewart, Soul, Suleiman Al, Lisa Shumaker, Sandra Maler Organizations: United, Pentagon, American, . Defense, Palestinian, Hamas, U.S, Reuters, Thomson Locations: United States, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Albu, Mayadeen, Deir al Zor, Israel, U.S, State, East, Amman

☆ Israel Must Protect Palestinians in the West Bank - UN Rights Chief
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

AMMAN (Reuters) - The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said on Friday that Israel must take immediate measures to protect Palestinians in the West Bank as they find themselves targeted by more violence since the conflict with Hamas erupted last month. "I also appeal, as a matter of urgency, for Israeli authorities to take immediate measures, to take steps to ensure the protection of Palestinians in the West Bank, who are being on a daily basis subjected to violence from Israeli forces and settlers, ill treatment, arrests, evictions, intimidation and humiliation," Volker Turk told reporters in the Jordanian capital of Amman. (Reporting by Suleiman Al-Khalidi in Amman and Gabrielle Tétrault-Farber in Geneva; Editing by Linda Pasquini)

Persons: Israel, Volker Turk, Suleiman Al, Gabrielle Tétrault, Farber, Linda Pasquini Organizations: United Nations, Human Rights, West Bank, Hamas Locations: AMMAN, Jordanian, Amman, Khalidi, Geneva

☆ Palestinian Authority could play Gaza role as part of wider Palestinian solution -Abbas
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority, meets with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in Amman, Jordan, Tuesday Oct. 17, 2023. Jacquelyn Martin/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsRAMALLAH, Nov 10 (Reuters) - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Friday the Palestinian Authority could play a role in administering the Gaza Strip, on condition that there was a full political solution that also encompassed the occupied West Bank. The Palestinian Authority could be part of a wider political solution with an independent Palestinian state, Abbas said. Attempts to secure an agreement for a two state solution with an independent Palestinian state have been stalled for almost a decade after the last round of U.S.-brokered peace talks stalled in 2014. Abbas said there should be an international peace conference to work out specific timelines, backed by international guarantees.

Persons: Mahmoud Abbas, Antony Blinken, Jacquelyn Martin, Abbas, Israel, Ali Sawafta, James Mackenzie, Clauda Tanios, Alison Williams, Grant McCool Organizations: Palestinian, U.S, Palestinian Authority, West Bank, Israeli, Hamas, United, Thomson Locations: Amman, Jordan, RAMALLAH, Gaza, United States, Israel, Palestine, East Jerusalem

AMMAN/GENEVA, Nov 10 (Reuters) - The U.N. human rights chief on Friday urged an investigation into what he called Israel's use of "high-impact explosive weapons" in Gaza, which he said was causing indiscriminate destruction in the besieged Palestinian enclave. Israel's air, sea and land bombardment of Gaza, accompanied now by a ground assault deep inside the territory, aims to destroy the militant group Hamas which controls Gaza. Israel's subsequent bombardment of Gaza has killed more than 10,000 Palestinians according to health authorities in the Palestinian enclave. "The extensive Israeli bombardment of Gaza, including the use of high-impact explosive weapons in densely populated areas ... is clearly having a devastating humanitarian and human rights impact," Turk told a news conference during a visit to Jordan's capital Amman. "But such conduct by Palestinian armed groups does not absolve Israel of its obligation to ensure that civilians are spared."

Persons: Volker Turk, Turk, Israel, Suleiman Al, Gabrielle Tétrault, Farber, Emma Farge, Maytaal, John Davison, Linda Pasquini, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: Human Rights, West Bank, Thomson Locations: AMMAN, GENEVA, Gaza, Israel, Amman, Khalidi, Geneva, Jerusalem, Beirut

Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed efforts to expand aid to Gaza with his Turkish counterpart. Blinken has been on a regional tour of the Middle East as the U.S. faces pressure to secure a pause in fighting amid the Israel-Hamas conflict. Photo: Jonathan Ernst/Pool/AFP/GettyThe U.S. is dialing up pressure on Israel to ease its intense bombardment of the Gaza Strip, deploying a wave of top diplomats to the Middle East in recent days, even without the release of hostages taken by Hamas, which Israel has set as the condition for any pause in its military operations. President Biden, in a phone call Monday with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu , urged the Israeli leader to declare a humanitarian pause, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Blinken, Jonathan Ernst, Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, John Kirby Organizations: Turkish, Getty, White, National Security Locations: Gaza, U.S, Israel

☆ Blinken says progress made on Middle East trip despite few tangible results
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Jennifer Hansler | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Ankara, Turkey CNN —Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday asserted he made progress on the goals he set for a whirlwind Middle East trip as he departed with few tangible results to show for a flurry of meetings with leaders about the Israel-Hamas war. Meanwhile, the civilian death toll in the war-torn Gaza Strip is mounting, and concerns about regional conflagration loom large. There have been no further releases of any hostages held by Hamas since Israel escalated its offensive in Gaza. But we also believe that a pause could help advance that proposition as well,” Blinken said Monday. Throughout the trip, Blinken repeatedly spoke of the need to discuss the “day of” but also the “day after” for the region and Gaza.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Jordan, we’ve, ” Blinken, “, Majed Al, Ansari, –, we’re, Blinken, Benjamin Netanyahu, Joe Biden, Netanyahu “, “ We’ve, Saudi Arabia –, ”, Mahmoud Abbas, Ayman Safadi Organizations: Turkey CNN —, West Bank, Tokyo, CNN, Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs, State Department, United Arab, Palestine Liberation Organization, Palestinian Authority, Palestinian, West Bank . Locations: Ankara, Turkey, Israel, Gaza, Iraq, Qatari, Qatar, Washington, Amman, Jordan, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Jordanian

☆ Jordan Airdrops Medical Aid to Its Field Hospital in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Hiba Yazbek | More About Hiba Yazbek | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

King Abdullah II of Jordan said on Monday that his country’s air force had airdropped “urgent medical aid” to a field hospital operated by the kingdom in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli military confirmed the unusual move and said in a statement that it had been a coordinated effort between the neighboring nations. Israel’s blockade and recent siege of Gaza have put some hospitals out of service, and aid deliveries through the Rafah crossing with Egypt have been inadequate, humanitarian groups say. This appeared to be the first time in this war that aid was dropped into Gaza from the air. “The return of the ambassadors will be tied to Israel stopping its war on Gaza and stopping the humanitarian disaster,” the foreign ministry said.

Persons: King Abdullah II, Jordan, ”, Muhannad Mubaideen, Ayman Safadi, “, Safadi, Antony J, ” Israel, Rana, Sweis Organizations: Gaza, Israel Locations: Gaza, Jordanian, Egypt, Israel, Amman —, Amman, Jerusalem, Jordan

GAZA, Nov 6 (Reuters) - Having rebuffed calls for a ceasefire, Israel was set to come under sustained pressure on Monday to avoid civilian casualties during its assault on Gaza, while a U.S. diplomatic blitz in the region sought to reduce risks of the conflict escalating. But after Blinken repeated U.S. concerns that a ceasefire could aid Hamas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ruled that out unless hostages held by Hamas were released. "We demand that you stop them from committing these crimes immediately," Abbas told Blinken, urging an "immediate ceasefire" from Israel. "Stop in the name of God," he said, calling for humanitarian aid and help for the injured to ease the "very grave" situation in Gaza. Instead, the U.S. wants localized pauses in fighting to allow in humanitarian aid and for people to leave Gaza.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Blinken, Mahmoud Abbas, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, WAFA, we're, Jonathan Conricus, Conricus, William Burns, Burns, Lloyd Austin, Yoav Gallant, Austin, Kamala Harris, King Abdullah, Mohammed Shia, Al Sudani, Jonathan Ernst, Saeed al, Abbas, Israel, Mohammed al, Pope Francis, Nidal al, Ali Sawafta, Simon Lewis, Dan Williams, Costas Pitas, David Lawder, Lincoln, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: Sunday, West Bank, Palestinian, Israeli, Hamas, Paltel, CNN, U.S, CIA, Israel, New York Times, Times, Reuters, . Defense, Pentagon, U.S . Central Command, Baghdad International, REUTERS, Israel Defense Forces, United Arab Emirates, Thomson Locations: GAZA, Israel, Gaza, U.S, Ankara, Turkey, Gaza City, Palestinian, Jordanian, Ohio, Iran, Baghdad, Iraq, LEBANON, Lebanon, Kiryat Shmona, Qatar, Saudi, Egypt, Jordan, Amman, Ramallah, Jerusalem, Los Angeles, Washington

Aside from pleasantries, neither man spoke as they greeted each other in front of cameras and the meeting ended without any public comment. It was not immediately clear if the lack of words indicated the meeting had gone poorly. Blinken had visited Israel and met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday before decamping to Jordan for meetings with senior Arab officials on Saturday. U.S. officials believe that Netanyahu may soften his opposition if he can be convinced that it is in Israel’s strategic interests to ease the plight of Palestinian civilians in Gaza. Blinken and other U.S. officials are offering a vague outline that it might include a combination of a revitalized Palestinian Authority along with international organizations and potentially a peacekeeping force.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Mahmoud Abbas, Blinken, Matthew Miller, Abbas, Miller, –, Benjamin Netanyahu, decamping, Netanyahu, United Arab Emirates –, ”, Israel, Ayman al Organizations: West Bank, —, State Department, Authority, Israeli, U.S, United, United Arab Emirates Locations: RAMALLAH, West, Israel, Gaza, Ramallah, Jordan, Washington, Berlin, Amman –, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab, U.S, Jordanian, Palestinian

☆ Israel's Netanyahu Says No Gaza Ceasefire Until Hostages Returned
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-05 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday rejected growing calls for a ceasefire in Gaza until all of the more than 240 hostages captured by militant Palestinian group Hamas during its Oct. 7 attacks are returned. "There will be no ceasefire without the return of the hostages. This should be completely removed from the lexicon," Netanyahu told crews at the Ramon air force base in southern Israel, reiterating the government's long-standing position. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, for his part, demanded an immediate ceasefire earlier when he met Blinken during the U.S. secretary's unannounced visit to the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Blinken, in the region for a second time in less than a month as part of U.S. efforts to prevent the Israel-Hamas war from spreading, has rejected ceasefire calls.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Antony Blinken, Israel, Mahmoud Abbas, Blinken, Maytaal Angel, Alexander Smith, Giles Elgood Organizations: Sunday, Hamas, United Arab Emirates, Saturday, U.S, West Bank, Blinken Locations: JERUSALEM, Gaza, Palestinian, Israel, Qatar, Saudi, Egypt, Jordan, U.S, Amman , Jordan

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