CAIRO: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken concluded his extensive Middle East diplomacy tour with a meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in Cairo on Thursday. The discussions centered on the ongoing conflict in Gaza and the efforts to find a resolution amid escalating tensions in the region.
This diplomatic engagement followed El-Sisi’s meetings with King Abdullah of Jordan and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Aqaba. The three leaders emphasized the need to address the situation in Gaza without causing displacement for its 2.3 million Palestinian residents or leading to an Israeli occupation.
Egypt and Jordan had warned against Israel’s crackdown, which has resulted in the death of over 23,357 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
Blinken Presents Tentative Agreement to Israel to Resolve Gaza Crisis
Blinken, who visited nine countries and the occupied West Bank within a week, presented a tentative agreement to Israel. The proposal outlined that Muslim-majority neighbors would assist in Gaza’s rehabilitation post-war and maintain economic integration with Israel. However, this support is contingent on Israel’s commitment to eventually allowing the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, incorporating Gaza and the West Bank.
The goal of this envisioned state aligns with Washington’s plan for the Palestinian Authority to undertake reforms, regain credibility, and assume control of Gaza.
In Egypt, Blinken was expected to discuss the ongoing talks with Hamas, facilitated by Egypt and Qatar. He expressed hope for Hamas’s engagement in discussions about releasing more hostages, following the breakdown of a previous deal that temporarily halted hostilities and led to the release of over 100 hostages.
The Secretary of State’s diplomatic efforts aim to de-escalate tensions in the region and prevent the further spread of the conflict to neighboring areas, including Lebanon, Iraq, and the Red Sea shipping lanes.
