In a move that has sent ripples across diplomatic circles, Jordan has called off a four-way summit that was scheduled to take place on Wednesday with US President Joe Biden, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi, and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. The sudden cancellation has raised questions about the stability of diplomatic relations in the Middle East, particularly in the context of the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
According to Jordan’s Foreign Minister Aiman al-Safadi, the summit was canceled due to a rocket attack on a hospital in the Gaza Strip, which resulted in numerous casualties. Both militant Palestinians and the Israeli army are blaming each other for the rocket attack. Al-Safadi stated that the meeting would only take place once there is an agreement to end the war and “stop these massacres”.
The cancellation comes just hours before President Biden was due to visit the region, marking a significant setback to his diplomatic initiatives concerning the Middle East crisis. The US president was set to meet the leaders after his visit to Israel on Wednesday.
The rocket attack and the subsequent cancellation of the summit have escalated tensions in the region. The war between Israel and Hamas is “pushing the region to the brink”, according to Ayman Safadi. The summit, therefore, would be postponed until further notice, according to Killeen Daily Herald.
The cancellation of the summit has not only regional but also international implications. It puts a spotlight on the volatile situation in the Middle East and raises questions about the effectiveness of diplomatic efforts to bring peace to the region. The international community will be keenly watching the next steps taken by the involved nations.
As of now, there is no information on when the summit will be rescheduled. The focus remains on de-escalating the situation in Gaza and finding a diplomatic solution to the ongoing conflict.
