Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Cairo on Wednesday to discuss efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza.
The two leaders shared views on strengthening joint mediation efforts by Egypt, the US, and Qatar to advance ceasefire negotiations in the Israel-blockaded Gaza Strip.
Sisi emphasized the need to remove barriers to humanitarian aid entering Gaza and called for an end to Israeli actions against Palestinians in the West Bank.
He also rejected any attempts to escalate the conflict regionally and reaffirmed Egypt’s support for Lebanon’s stability following Tuesday’s pager explosions, which killed 12 people and injured nearly 2,800.
Sisi and Blinken agreed to intensify joint efforts to ensure peace and security in the region, according to a statement from the Egyptian presidency.
Blinken’s visit to Cairo is part of his 10th regional tour since last October, focused on securing a ceasefire and facilitating a prisoner swap between Israel and Hamas.
