"US Secretary of State Blinken's Middle East Diplomacy Amidst Israel-Hamas Conflict"

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Middle East leaders in Jordan to discuss the Israel-Hamas war. Arab leaders called for an immediate cease-fire, while Blinken warned that such a move could encourage more violence by Hamas. The joint news conference highlighted the dissonance in the messages, with Arab officials emphasizing the need to stop the killing and improve aid flows, while Blinken held firm to the U.S. position that a cease-fire would harm Israel's right to self-defense. Blinken also discussed Gaza's postwar future, but Arab officials argued that immediate priorities should be addressing the humanitarian crisis and protecting civilians.