Tuesday's White House meeting on the Gaza crisis included Israel, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, UAE, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain. The Palestinian Authority decided not to attend.

Why it matters: It's rare for representatives from Israel and Arab countries like Saudi Arabia to come together in the same room.

Special envoy Jason Greenblatt said in his opening remarks: "We regret that the Palestinian Authority is not here with us today. This is not about politics. This is about the health, safety and happiness of the people of Gaza, and of all Palestinians, Israelis and Egyptians."

• He added, "Today's terrible attack on the convoy of Prime Minister Hamdallah demonstrates there will always be real risks associated with this endeavor. But the risks justify the potential benefits."