U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized the critical need for a ceasefire in Gaza during a press conference in Doha, stressing that “time is running out” to achieve this goal. Blinken concluded a Middle East tour aimed at convincing Israel and Hamas to agree to a new U.S. “settlement plan.”
He confirmed that Israel has agreed to the plan and urged Hamas to accept it. On the ground, Israeli airstrikes have resulted in the death of over 24 Palestinians, while the Israeli army discovered the bodies of six hostages in Gaza.
In Lebanon, the Ministry of Health reported the deaths of five people due to Israeli airstrikes, with Hezbollah responding by launching rockets and drones.
Notably, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, in a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday, emphasized that it is time to end the war in Gaza and appeal to reason, promoting peace and diplomacy.
During their meeting in the new city of Alamein, following Blinken’s arrival from Israel, el-Sisi articulated that a ceasefire in Gaza should pave the way for broader international recognition of a Palestinian state and the implementation of a two-state solution.
He highlighted this as essential for the stability of the region, cautioning about the dangers of the conflict escalating to an unimaginable regional scale.
The session underscored the strong strategic partnership between Egypt and the U.S., and their commitment to jointly fostering security and stability in the region. The meeting also reviewed joint Egyptian-American-Qatari mediation efforts to cease fire in Gaza and exchange detainees.
Discussions included insights from the latest negotiation session held last week in Doha and strategies to advance ongoing negotiations in Cairo.
Blinken’s visit is part of a Middle Eastern tour aimed at achieving a ceasefire in Gaza, starting his journey in Israel where he met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other officials to discuss a ceasefire proposal.
