A scene of destruction in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, where further Israeli bombardments have taken place. AFP
A scene of destruction in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, where further Israeli bombardments have taken place. AFP
A scene of destruction in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, where further Israeli bombardments have taken place. AFP
A scene of destruction in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, where further Israeli bombardments have taken place. AFP

Leaders from Jordan, US, Egypt and Palestine to hold Gaza summit


Amr Mostafa
  • English
  • Arabic

Live updates: Follow the latest news on Israel-Gaza

Jordan's King Abdullah II will host a four-way summit in Amman on Wednesday with US President Joe Biden, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, to discuss the situation in Gaza.

The meeting will discuss the "dangerous developments" in Gaza and their repercussions on the region, as well as ways to ensure the entry of humanitarian and relief aid into the Strip, the Royal Court said on Tuesday.

Also on Wednesday, Mr Biden is to visit Israel to show support for its war on Hamas, after Washington said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had agreed to let humanitarian aid reach besieged Gazans.

The White House confirmed Mr Biden will visit Israel on Wednesday, saying he will “demonstrate his steadfast support for Israel in the face of Hamas’s brutal terrorist attack and to consult on next steps”.

At the summit in Amman, Mr Biden will "reiterate that Hamas does not stand for the Palestinian people’s right to dignity and self-determination and discuss the humanitarian needs of civilians in Gaza”, the White House said.

Israel has vowed to annihilate the Hamas movement that controls Gaza after its gunmen killed 1,300 people, mainly civilians, in a rampage through southern Israeli towns on October 7, the deadliest single day in Israel's 75-year history.

Israel has bombarded the Gaza Strip with air strikes that have killed more than 2,800 Palestinians, a quarter of them children, and driven around half of the 2.3 million Gazans from their homes. It has imposed a blockade on the enclave, halting food, fuel and medical supplies, which are rapidly running out.

Scores of lorries carrying vital supplies for Gaza headed towards the Rafah crossing in Egypt on Tuesday, the only access point to the enclave outside of Israel's control, but there was no clear indication that they would be able to enter.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken initially announced Mr Biden's planned visit at the end of hours of talks with Mr Netanyahu, in which he said the Israeli PM had agreed to develop a plan to get humanitarian aid to Gaza civilians. He gave no details.

The US has been seeking to prevent the conflict from spreading in the Middle East. Mr Blinken arrived in Israel on Monday to meet Mr Netanyahu after meetings in Egypt and Saudi Arabia on Sunday.

National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said Washington has held back-channel discussions with Tehran to warn Iran against entering the conflict.

THE SIXTH SENSE

Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment

Director: M. Night Shyamalan

Rating: 5/5

WOMAN AND CHILD

Director: Saeed Roustaee

Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi

Rating: 4/5

If you go

Flight connections to Ulaanbaatar are available through a variety of hubs, including Seoul and Beijing, with airlines including Mongolian Airlines and Korean Air. While some nationalities, such as Americans, don’t need a tourist visa for Mongolia, others, including UAE citizens, can obtain a visa on arrival, while others including UK citizens, need to obtain a visa in advance. Contact the Mongolian Embassy in the UAE for more information.

Nomadic Road offers expedition-style trips to Mongolia in January and August, and other destinations during most other months. Its nine-day August 2020 Mongolia trip will cost from $5,250 per person based on two sharing, including airport transfers, two nights’ hotel accommodation in Ulaanbaatar, vehicle rental, fuel, third party vehicle liability insurance, the services of a guide and support team, accommodation, food and entrance fees; nomadicroad.com

A fully guided three-day, two-night itinerary at Three Camel Lodge costs from $2,420 per person based on two sharing, including airport transfers, accommodation, meals and excursions including the Yol Valley and Flaming Cliffs. A return internal flight from Ulaanbaatar to Dalanzadgad costs $300 per person and the flight takes 90 minutes each way; threecamellodge.com

Updated: October 17, 2023, 2:00 PM