Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken have agreed to enhance their efforts to achieve a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
In a meeting held in Cairo, the two leaders discussed the latest developments related to their joint endeavors towards reaching a ceasefire in Gaza, as well as a potential prisoners swap between Israel and Hamas, as stated by the Egyptian presidency.
Furthermore, the meeting addressed Egypt’s initiatives to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza. President Sisi highlighted the significance of international collaboration in overcoming barriers to humanitarian aid distribution, along with the urgent need to end the conflict in the region, prevent further escalation, and advance the implementation of a two-state solution, as per the official statement.
The military operation by the Israeli army in Rafah, Gaza’s southernmost city, resulted in the seizure of the Palestinian side of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt in early May. This caused the closure of the crossing, prompting Egypt to demand Israeli withdrawal for the resumption of its operation.
During the discussions, Blinken conveyed the United States’ gratitude for Egypt’s continuous efforts in both political and humanitarian aspects, as well as its dedication to collaborating with Egypt to restore security and peace in the region. In late November 2023, the United States, Egypt, and Qatar successfully mediated a week-long truce between Israel and Hamas. Despite this, the ongoing deadly conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, which began last October, resulted in the failure to reach a new ceasefire agreement during talks in Cairo last month.