Diplomatic efforts to manage the crisis that has erupted in the Middle East are intensifying as the Israel-Hamas war enters a new phase as the Israeli army pushes ever deeper into the Gaza Strip.

He visits the area once more US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, who met with his counterparts from Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Qatar.

On the face of it, US and Arab officials have very different views on what is needed first in Gaza, with Anthony Blinken rejecting the other side’s proposal for a ceasefire and instead called once again for “humanitarian pauses” for aid to Gaza.

Both the foreign ministers of Jordan and Egypt said an immediate ceasefire was vital.

Blinken countered that this would leave Hamas in position to regroup and attack Israel again.

Afterwards, the US Secretary of State announced that the US and Arab states agree that the status quo of a Hamas-controlled Gaza cannot continue and that he has discussed with his Arab counterparts how to chart a path towards a two-state solution.

Turkey-Israel relations are further deteriorating

Blinken, who has acknowledged differences with Arab leaders over their approaches to the conflict, will travel on Sunday to Turkey, the which in a new deterioration of its relationship with Israel announced the recall of the Turkish ambassadoror from the country.

In a statement, the country’s foreign ministry says it has recalled its ambassador to Tel Aviv, Shakir Ozkan “for consultations” in response to the fact that “the Israeli side does not accept calls for a ceasefire, continues attacks on civilians and does not allow the uninterrupted and continuous flow of humanitarian aid”.

Relations between Ankara and Israel are at an all-time low as it previously announced it was severing contacts with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in protest at the bloodshed in Gaza.

Particularly, Referring to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Erdogan said: “I have no contact at the moment. Our MİT president Ibrahim Kalin meets the Israeli side. Of course, he also negotiates with Palestine and Hamas. Let me tell you this, Netanyahu is no longer someone we can talk to. We deleted him and threw him away.”