Blinken Heads to Egypt for Talks on Gaza Cease-fire and Hostage Release
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to Egypt on Tuesday to discuss a possible Gaza cease-fire and the release of hostages with Egyptian officials, according to the State Department. The trip underscores Washington’s ongoing efforts, alongside mediators Qatar and Egypt, to broker a deal between Israel and Hamas to halt the conflict and secure the release of hostages.
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Key obstacles in the negotiations remain Israel’s insistence on maintaining its forces in the Philadelphi Corridor, a strategic area between Gaza and Egypt, to serve as a buffer zone and the specific terms of a potential exchange involving hostages held by Hamas and Palestinian prisoners detained by Israel.
Blinken’s discussions in Egypt will focus on “efforts to reach a deal that secures the release of all hostages, alleviates the suffering of the Palestinian people, and helps establish broader regional security,” the State Department said in a statement.
