U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday landed in Cairo for his meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi as the United States works to advance a Gaza truce and hostage deal mediated by the Egyptians and Qataris.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is welcomed by Sarah Henry, Second Secretary at the Protocol Department of Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs protocol, upon his arrival at Cairo Airport, in Cairo, February 6, 2024. Mark Schiefelbein/Pool via Reuters
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday landed in Cairo for his meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi as the United States works to advance a Gaza truce and hostage deal mediated by the Egyptians and Qataris.
The top U.S. diplomat departed Riyadh shortly after sunrise for what is set to be a marathon day visiting Egypt and Qatar before flying to Israel to discuss hostage negotiations, post-war Gaza plans and the prospect of Arab countries and Israel normalizing ties.
Blinken's fifth trip to the region since October comes as the United States presses ahead with its retaliatory campaign against Iran-aligned militia which had attacked last month and killed U.S. troops in a military outpost in Jordan.
Washington sees a possible truce to free remaining hostages Hamas kidnapped on Oct. 7 and pause fighting in Gaza as key to progress on other challenges, such as the governance of post-war Gaza, a path towards Palestinian statehood and a deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia to normalize their relationship.
Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday the 12-day war with Iran had created opportunities for Israel, and the first was the return of hostages held in Gaza by Palestinian militants who attacked Israel on October 7, 2023.
British police said they were considering whether to launch an investigation after performers at Glastonbury Festival made anti-Israel comments during their shows.
Doha is working to revive negotiations for a lasting ceasefire in Gaza, capitalizing on the momentum created by the recent truce between Israel and Iran.
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