US secretary of state rallies Mideast leaders to prepare for Gaza’s post-war future

By MATTHEW LEE
AP Diplomatic Writer

AL ULA, Saudi Arabia (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken says four key Arab nations and Turkey have agreed to begin planning for the reconstruction and governance of Gaza once Israel’s war against Hamas ends. Blinken spoke Monday after meeting with the Saudi crown prince. He is on an urgent Mideast mission that also took him to Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Turkey. Arab countries had previously resisted U.S. calls for post-war planning to begin, insisting that there must first be a cease-fire and a sharp reduction in civilian suffering caused by Israel’s military offensive. Blinken said he would bring the Arab commitments to Israel’s prime minister and the Palestinian leader before presenting them to the Egyptian president.