Across the region, a tense scene unfolded as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Ramallah for talks with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. Dozens of Palestinians gathered in protest, signaling intensified opposition to the visit amid broader debates over statehood, governance, and the future of Gaza. Blinken pressed Israeli leaders to advance Palestinian statehood and engaged Abbas on governance reforms, focusing on post-war Gaza and the responsibilities tied to any new framework for peace. In a parallel development, King Abdullah II of Jordan convened Abbas and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Aqaba to discuss what the Jordanian royal palace described as dangerous events in Gaza, underscoring regional concerns about the path forward. (WAFA)
Abbas asserted to Blinken that Palestinians would not accept attempts to sever Gaza from the West Bank or to treat the Gaza Strip as an isolated entity. He described Gaza as an integral part of the State of Palestine, warning against measures he characterized as displacement or other coercive actions by Israeli authorities. Reports from Israeli ministers and officials about possible land measures were noted as a point of contention for Palestinians, with the President stressing unity between Gaza and the West Bank. (WAFA)
During the week, comments from Israeli Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi were cited as advocating voluntary migration from Gaza, a stance that drew significant international scrutiny. Observers noted that such positions risk widening the rift and complicating prospects for a negotiated settlement in the near term. (WAFA)
summit in jordan
At the Jordan summit, Abdullah, Abbas, and al-Sisi voiced a shared demand for greater international pressure to end the Gaza crisis and to accelerate the flow of humanitarian aid into the region. They rejected any moves to separate the future of the West Bank from Gaza and cautioned against efforts that could undermine the prospects for a Palestinian state. The Jordanian government stated that both Egypt and Jordan stood firmly behind Abbas’s stance and dismissed allegations of plans to liquidate a Palestinian state. (Jordanian Presidency)
Blinken’s regional tour was set to continue with a visit to Cairo, where a fresh round of talks was expected. In parallel, a Hebrew-language delegation in Israel was preparing for renewed negotiations aimed at a comprehensive agreement that could enable the return of hostages held by Hamas and allied groups in Gaza. The talks followed the death of Hamas’s deputy leader Salih al-Arouri in Beirut and were accompanied by ongoing bombardments and ground operations in Gaza. Reports over the past 24 hours noted continued violence in central and southern Gaza, with assessments suggesting that control of Gaza remains disputed among different actors. A member of Israel’s war cabinet, Benny Gantz, reiterated that Hamas does not exercise full and lasting control over Gaza, emphasizing the complexity of any lasting settlement. (Associated Press)