US supports immediate ceasefire in Gaza Strip
(Baonghean.vn) - US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said that Secretary of State Antony Blinken voiced support for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip during negotiations with Arab officials.
According to the spokesman, Mr. Blinken met with the Foreign Ministers of Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia and the Secretary General of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).
"They discussed the importance of increasing sustained humanitarian assistance to address the dire situation in Gaza. The Secretary (Blinken) reaffirmed US support for efforts to achieve lasting peace in the region, including through a pathway to a Palestinian state that provides security guarantees to Israel. Secretary Blinken emphasized the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the release of the remaining hostages held by Hamas. The Secretary also emphasized the importance of regional coordination to prevent the conflict from spreading," Miller said.
Secretary Blinken also spoke with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman al Saud. “The Secretary emphasized the importance of maintaining and increasing humanitarian assistance to Gaza, achieving an immediate ceasefire in Gaza to secure the release of hostages, and preventing further escalation of the conflict. The Secretary and the Crown Prince discussed ongoing efforts to achieve lasting regional peace and security, including through deeper integration among countries in the region and enhanced bilateral cooperation between the United States and Saudi Arabia,” the spokesperson said.
The parties also pointed out "the urgent need to reduce tensions in the region, including by ending Houthi attacks, which undermine both freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and progress in the peace process in Yemen".
Secretary of State Blinken arrives in Saudi Arabia, the first stop on his Middle East tour, on April 29. He will then travel to Israel and Jordan, where he will discuss the situation in the Gaza Strip./.
