Arab ministers convened in Cairo on Thursday for discussions with a Palestinian official regarding efforts to resolve the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza.
The meeting aimed to address the ongoing violence and explore avenues for securing a ceasefire, with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken scheduled to join to advocate for a cessation of hostilities lasting at least six weeks.
During the discussions, the ministers engaged with Hussein al-Sheikh, the general secretary of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) executive committee. Topics included strategies to halt the Israeli offensive against Gaza, the imperative of achieving a ceasefire, and ensuring unrestricted access to humanitarian aid, as outlined by the spokesperson for the Egyptian foreign ministry.
In addition to the talks with al-Sheikh, Blinken was slated to meet with key figures, including the foreign ministers of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Jordan, as well as the United Arab Emirates’ state minister for international cooperation. The agenda aimed to advance discussions on securing an immediate ceasefire in the six-month-long conflict and facilitating the release of all hostages held by Hamas, the militant group governing Gaza.
Blinken had previously conferred with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to address ongoing negotiations for a ceasefire and the release of hostages. Discussions also encompassed the prospects for establishing an independent Palestinian state with security guarantees for Israel, according to State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller.
