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.
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.
