Jordan's foreign ministry confirmed that the ministers, including Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan, who was to be the first Saudi foreign minister to visit the territory in years, had their visit rejected by the Israeli government. Alongside him, foreign ministers from Bahrain and Egypt were also on the list of attendees. While no comments were made from the Israeli government regarding this decision, the move signals continued tensions in the region.
The delegation's meeting with Abbas was part of preparatory work for a conference backed by France and Saudi Arabia, aiming to reignite stalled discussions surrounding Palestinian statehood. Nevertheless, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed strong opposition to these efforts.
In a backdrop of ongoing violence, the conflict has escalated, with reports indicating that over 54,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the outbreak of war over 20 months ago following a major attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023. International responses are varied, with some European nations like Spain and Norway recognizing Palestine as a state in efforts to revitalize the Middle East peace process amidst these complex dynamics.
The delegation's meeting with Abbas was part of preparatory work for a conference backed by France and Saudi Arabia, aiming to reignite stalled discussions surrounding Palestinian statehood. Nevertheless, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed strong opposition to these efforts.
In a backdrop of ongoing violence, the conflict has escalated, with reports indicating that over 54,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the outbreak of war over 20 months ago following a major attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023. International responses are varied, with some European nations like Spain and Norway recognizing Palestine as a state in efforts to revitalize the Middle East peace process amidst these complex dynamics.
