RIYADH (Reuters) – Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and several international leaders will travel to Riyadh this week for talks on a peace deal in the Gaza Strip, on the sidelines of an Economic Forum meeting world, the president of the organization said on Saturday.
“We now have the key players in Riyadh and we hope that the discussions can lead to a process of reconciliation and peace,” Børge Brende said at a press conference in Riyadh, adding that the humanitarian crisis in Gaza would be on the agenda.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will attend the meetings in the Saudi capital alongside regional leaders, including the Prime Minister of Qatar, the Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia, the Crown Prince of Oman and Bahraini officials, said Børge Brende.
According to the latter, the Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sameh Choukry should take stock of Friday’s discussions with the Israeli delegation, the aim of which is to relaunch the negotiations, currently in an impasse, on a ceasefire in Gaza and achieve the release of hostages held by Hamas.
“There is now some momentum for hostage negotiations and a possible ceasefire,” Børge Brende said.
(Reporting Pesha Magid in Riyadh; written by Andrew Mills; French version Claude Chendjou)
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