US Secretary of State Blinken holds talks with Gulf leaders as conflict enters 4-th month

New Delhi, Jan 8: As the Israel - Palestine Conflict completes three months, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is again in the Gulf Countries currently in talks with leaders from Gulf Arab states, starting with a meeting in Abu Dhabi, UAE, and then heading to Al 'Ula, Saudi Arabia, to discuss various regional issues and perhaps peace talks.

His primary focus is addressing the threat posed by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea and exploring US proposals for achieving lasting peace in Gaza once the Israeli military campaign concludes.

During these closed-door discussions, Arab leaders have shown a greater willingness to engage in long-term planning for the Palestinians compared to Blinken's previous visits.

In a recent stop in Qatar, Blinken emphasized that Palestinians should not be pressured to leave Gaza and should be allowed to return to their homes when conditions permit.

Blinken's comments align with a condemnation of statements by Israeli far-right ministers calling for the displacement of Palestinians. While the official Israeli government stance is that Gazans will eventually return home, the specific details of how and when this will happen are yet to be outlined.

Blinken underscored the importance of allowing Palestinian civilians to return home as soon as conditions allow, emphasizing that they should not be forced to leave Gaza.