Egypt Daily News – U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Cairo to meet with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.
President Sisi expressed Egypt’s commitment to preventing the conflict from broadening and called for responsible action from all parties involved, particularly emphasizing the need to end Israeli violations in the West Bank and to stop the escalation against Palestinians.
Blinken’s visit primarily aims to facilitate a ceasefire agreement in Gaza while reinforcing U.S.-Egypt relations, especially in light of the recent violence in Lebanon tied to Hezbollah’s accusations against Israel regarding attacks on beeper devices.
These attacks resulted in multiple casualties, including 11 Hezbollah members, signaling heightened regional instability.
The U.S. State Department noted that it is premature to determine if the recent explosions in Lebanon would impact ongoing ceasefire discussions in Gaza, with a spokesperson underscoring the U.S. belief in diplomacy as a means to alleviate tensions.
The U.S. has also put forward a proposal for a ceasefire that includes the release of Hamas-held prisoners, aiming for a resolution after previous mediation efforts by Egypt, Qatar, and the U.S. failed.
