RIYADH: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in
Saudi Arabia
on Monday to continue his efforts towards a potential cease-fire deal and postwar planning in the
Gaza conflict
. However, he faces significant challenges on all fronts.
Hamas
and Israel are in disagreement over key elements of a truce, while Iran's militant allies in the region show no signs of being deterred by US strikes.
In Gaza, Hamas is starting to re-emerge in the devastated areas as Israeli forces withdraw, indicating that Israel's goal of crushing the group remains elusive. The destruction in these areas is immense, with almost every building damaged or destroyed.
Blinken is scheduled to meet with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during his visit. Saudi officials have expressed interest in normalizing relations with Israel, but only if there is a credible plan to establish a Palestinian state.
However, reaching such a grand bargain seems distant as the war continues in Gaza. The Health Ministry in the Hamas-ruled territory reported that 113 bodies were brought to hospitals in the last 24 hours, with 205 people wounded. The overall Palestinian death toll from the four-month-long war has reached 27,478, with the majority of the casualties being women and children.
The war in Gaza has caused extensive destruction, displaced 85% of the population, and pushed a quarter of the residents to the brink of starvation.
A video circulating online showed masked gunmen parading shirtless detainees past bombed-out buildings in northern Gaza, forcing them to confess to being thieves. While the incident couldn't be independently confirmed, it aligns with previous reports by The Associated Press.
This incident is a clear indication that Hamas, which has been in control of Gaza since 2007, is reasserting its authority in certain areas. Residents have reported the presence of Hamas-led security forces, focusing on distributing salaries and cracking down on looters.
The Israeli military has conducted targeted operations in northern Gaza to prevent Hamas from rebuilding its capabilities.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to continue the war until Hamas' military and governing abilities are crushed, and the remaining hostages held by the militant group are released. The October 7 cross-border raid by Hamas resulted in the death of over 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and the abduction of around 250. During a weeklong cease-fire in November, more than 100 captives, mostly women and children, were released in exchange for the freedom of 240 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.
During a meeting with troops, Netanyahu claimed that Israel had defeated 18 out of Hamas' 24 battalions, although he did not provide evidence. He expressed the commitment to achieving absolute victory.
The United States, Qatar, and Egypt have proposed a cease-fire lasting several weeks and the phased release of the remaining hostages. However, Hamas has not yet responded publicly and has stated that it will not release any more captives until Israel ends its offensive. In return, the militants are expected to demand the release of thousands of Palestinian prisoners, a demand that Netanyahu has publicly rejected.
The war has sparked tensions across the region, with an escalation of strikes and counterstrikes increasing the risk of a wider conflict. Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group engage in daily border fire, and recent Israeli strikes have resulted in the deaths of senior Hezbollah commanders. Additionally, a drone attack carried out by Iran-backed militants killed three US soldiers near the Jordan-Syria border, leading to retaliatory US strikes. The United States and Britain have also responded to attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea by launching strikes on the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.
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