Blinken Hails Role of Egypt in Ongoing Gaza Ceasefire Talks

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that substantial progress has been made in the ongoing negotiations to secure a ceasefire in Gaza.

 Over the past six weeks, Egypt and Qatar have played crucial roles in advancing these talks. However, Blinken emphasized that the ultimate solution hinges not just on the terms of the agreement but on the political will of the involved parties to reach a lasting deal.

Speaking during a press conference, Blinken pointed out that Israel had recently withdrawn forces from the Palestinian city of Rafah, following assurances that Hamas was no longer in a position to repeat its October attacks. He stressed that a ceasefire would facilitate the return of hostages and prevent further escalation of the conflict.

Blinken also highlighted that Hamas cannot continue to hold hostages or subject the entire population of Gaza to its control. A ceasefire, he noted, would create a more stable environment for the people of Gaza, ending the immediate conflict and enabling the urgent delivery of humanitarian aid, ultimately improving the lives of the civilians Hamas claims to represent.

In his remarks, Blinken underlined the need for both sides to demonstrate political will to secure a genuine agreement. He noted that only with such commitment can discussions advance to key issues such as Gaza’s governance, security, and reconstruction. Egypt, he added, would be a critical partner in addressing these matters.

Blinken’s visit to Cairo began with a meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, in the presence of Foreign Minister Badr Abdel-Atty, Intelligence Chief Abbas Kamel, and U.S. Ambassador to Cairo, Herro Mustafa Garg.

During the meeting, Blinken conveyed President Joe Biden’s appreciation for Egypt’s essential role in restoring stability to the region. President El-Sisi echoed these sentiments, reaffirming the importance of the U.S.-Egypt strategic partnership in safeguarding both nations' interests and strengthening regional security.