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Gaza War Set to Dominate Discussions at WEF Saudi Summit

The Israel-Hamas War is expected to be the prominent discussion at a Saudi-hosted special meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) that begins in Riyadh on Sunday, reported France 24.

At the beginning of the summit, Saudi Arabia has called for regional stability, highlighting the threats of the current Israel-Hamas war on the global economy.

War in Gaza Set to Dominate Discussions at WEF Saudi Summit

Blinken’s Visit Amid Stalled Negotiations

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Palestinian leaders, a host of Gaza mediators, Arab officials, and other senior officials representing various countries are striving to put an end to the deadlocked negotiations between Hamas and Israel and reach a permanent ceasefire agreement.

Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed al-Jadaan stated that the world now is witnessing a lot of economic pressure with two rising conflicts: the Gaza conflict and Russian Ukrainian conflict.

“We meet at a moment when one misjudgment or one miscalculation or one miscommunication will further exacerbate our challenges.” Saudi Planning Minister Faisal Al-Ibrahim said on Saturday ahead of the conference.

Blinken will hold multiple meetings, discussing critical issues including the hostages held by Hamas, humanitarian aid, a potential cease-fire, and a political solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the State Department announced Saturday.

The State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller noted that Blinken would emphasis that it is “Hamas that stands in the way of a cease-fire for the Palestinian people.”

‘New Momentum’ in Hostage Talks

War in Gaza Set to Dominate Discussions at WEF Saudi Summit

Israel estimates that 129 hostages seized by militants on 7 October are still being held in Gaza, including 34 whom the military says are dead.

The issue of hostages held by Hamas is anticipated to get top billing at the discussions, especially after the failure of the Qatari and Egyptian mediation in reaching an agreement due to differences on key demands.

WEF President Borge Brende stated in Saturday’s press conference that there was “some new momentum now in the talks around the hostages.”

Brende added that the summit presents a great opportunity for structured discussions over the disastrous humanitarian situation in Gaza.

Moreover, the meetings will also include the situation in Iran which supports Hamas and Lebanon’s Hezbollah group.

However, Israel will never participate at the summit, but Brende confirmed that the formal mediation process between Israel and Hamas will unfold elsewhere.

American officials are pressing on Hamas to release about 40 of the 100 or more hostages it is holding, confirming that this would be the first step in securing a permanent cease-fire. Israel supports the proposal, while Hamas said, in a statement, that the movement “will study the proposal, and upon completion, it will submit its response.”

The Normalization Deal

War in Gaza Set to Dominate Discussions at WEF Saudi Summit

Before Hamas’s attack on Israel, Saudi Arabia was planning to sign a significant deal under which it would recognize Israel for the first time while enhancing its security partnership with Washington.

However, after the soaring tensions in Gaza, the Kingdom decisively declared that without addressing the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in a manner that satisfies the Palestinians, there would be no normalization, according to Saudi analyst Hesham Alghannam.

During the war, Saudi officials have highlighted their insistence on recognition of an independent Palestinian state.

Princess Reema bint Bandar Al-Saud, the Saudi Ambassador to Washington, told the World Economic Forum in January that normalization would be impossible without an “irrevocable” pathway towards the state’s creation.

Pro-Palestinian Demonstrations on US Campuses Spread

War in Gaza Set to Dominate Discussions at WEF Saudi Summit

At least 34,388 Palestinians have been killed and an estimated 77,437 have been injured during the Israeli military assault in Gaza.

As a result, the American universities are witnessing mounting protests from New York to California condemning the Israel-Hamas War. Protesters are laying out tents at campuses and called schools to cut financial ties with Israel and divest from companies supporting the occupying country. Dozens of pro-Palestinian demonstrators are being arrested under the allegation of anti-Semitic activity.

Related Topics:

Blinken Heads to Saudi Arabia Amid Israel-Hamas Deadlock Negotiation

Biden Urges Egypt, Qatar to Press Hamas on Hostage Deal

Truce Talks Resume Between Israel, Hamas in Cairo

 

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