U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Egyptian leaders in Cairo on Tuesday to focus on negotiating a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war in exchange for the release of hostages held by the militants.
Blinken’s visit coincides with increasing concerns in Egypt about Israel’s plans to expand combat in Gaza to areas along the Egyptian border, where displaced Palestinians have sought refuge.
Egypt has warned that an Israeli deployment along the border could jeopardize the peace treaty signed between the two countries over four decades ago, fearing that an escalation of combat to the Rafah area might force Palestinian civilians across the border, a situation Egypt is determined to prevent.
During his trip, Blinken aims to advance a cease-fire deal, discuss potential normalization of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, and work on preventing an escalation of regional conflict.
Egypt and Qatar have been mediating an agreement between Israel and Hamas to secure the release of hostages in exchange for a temporary halt in Israeli military operations. Blinken seeks updates on Hamas’ response to the proposal in both Cairo and Doha before traveling to Israel to brief Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his War Cabinet on Wednesday.
Blinken’s overarching goal remains preventing the conflict from spreading further, amid increased attacks by Iran-backed militias in the region and escalating U.S. military responses in Iraq, Syria, Yemen, and the Red Sea in recent days.
Additionally, Blinken met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh, emphasizing the importance of addressing humanitarian needs in Gaza and preventing further escalation of the conflict.
However, achieving a grand bargain appears distant as the war continues to ravage Gaza. The Palestinian death toll continues to rise, with thousands displaced and facing dire humanitarian conditions due to Israeli evacuation orders covering two-thirds of the Gaza Strip.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports severe shortages of basic necessities, exacerbating the suffering of Gaza’s residents, including infants like Zainab Al-Zein’s daughter, who are deprived of proper nutrition and healthcare.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged to continue the war until Hamas’ military and governing capabilities are dismantled and all hostages are released.
Gary P Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
