CAIRO: France’s foreign minister will visit Cairo, Egypt on Wednesday in an unscheduled stop during a Middle East trip as efforts to secure a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel in Gaza reach a critical point, a French source said.
According to AFP, diplomatic efforts toward securing a truce were intensifying after a renewed push led by Cairo to revive stalled talks between Hamas and Israel. The diplomatic source told AFP that the surprise trip of the minister is in the context of Cairo’s efforts to free captives and achieve a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
France has three nationals still held hostage by Hamas after the group’s assault on Israel in October.
Foreign minister Stephane Sejourne’s trip to Cairo follows stopovers in Lebanon, and Israel. The Minister also warned that an offensive in Rafah would do nothing to help Israel in its war with Hamas.
The development comes as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has also reiterated the call for Hamas to agree to a ceasefire deal. Blinken emphasized the urgent need for a ceasefire, stating, “Even in these very odd times, we are determined to get a truce that brings the hostages home—and to get it now.
