High-Level US Delegation Travels to Cairo for Gaza Ceasefire Negotiations

William Burns, Director of U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, and Brett McGurk, National Security Council Coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa, traveled to Cairo yesterday, Friday, to participate in negotiations aimed at securing a ceasefire agreement in Gaza, according to the American newspaper "Washington Examiner."

National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told reporters on Friday: "Progress has been made. We now need both sides to come together and work toward implementation. The preliminary talks we held in Cairo were constructive in nature, so we want to see the same kind of momentum continue here over the next few days."

The Egyptian, US and Qatari governments have been acting as mediators between Israel and Hamas since the conflict began.

President Joe Biden emphasized "the need to finalize the ceasefire and secure the release of hostages" during a conversation with Israeli Prime Minister (PM) Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday, according to a White House statement about the call, and "discussed the upcoming talks in Cairo to remove any remaining obstacles."

Moreover, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced in Israel, last Monday that the Israelis had agreed to a temporary ceasefire proposal and called on Hamas to do the same. 

The newspaper explained that the next major hurdle for each side to overcome is how the parties will implement the aspects of the deal.