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Group of Arab Americans who met with top US diplomat left feeling pessimistic about Gaza's future, source says
From CNN's Khalil Abdallah and Jennifer Hansler
A group of Arab and Palestinian Americans who met Monday with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken left the meeting feeling pessimistic about the future of Gaza, according to a source familiar with the meeting.
Blinken did not give any indication to the group that the US has a plan for who will govern Gaza if Hamas is eliminated, the source told CNN.
The group pressed the top US diplomat for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, the source said.
In a separate meeting, Blinken also met with a group of Jewish community leaders, according to a readout from State Department spokesperson Matt Miller.

"The Secretary invited participants to share their perspectives, listened to the ideas put forward, and pledged that the Department would remain in close contact with their organizations and broader communities," the statement from Miller said.

In both meetings, Blinken condemned the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7, reiterated US support for Israel and described US efforts to prevent the widening of conflict, Miller said. The top US diplomat also emphasized US efforts to "facilitate a steady flow of humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza" and to "secure the release of additional hostages."
"He made clear that the United States continues to support the Palestinian people and a two-state solution and reiterated that Hamas does not represent Palestinians," according to the statement.