Blinken arrives Egypt to facilitate Gaza ceasefire efforts

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is visiting Egypt and Israel on Monday as part of the United States’ efforts to broker a ceasefire in Gaza and prevent the conflict from spreading to Lebanon.

This makes it Blinken’s eighth visit to the region since the war started,

According to a statement, Blinken’s trip begins in Cairo, where he is scheduled for closed-door talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, a pivotal U.S. partner in peace efforts.

Following his Cairo visit, Blinken will travel to Jerusalem later on Monday for meetings with Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, in line with a proposal announced on May 31 by President Joe Biden, aiming to end the war, which has severely impacted Palestinian civilians in Gaza and caused political strain domestically ahead of the upcoming November elections.

The ceasefire proposal includes steps toward a permanent cessation of hostilities, the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, and the reconstruction of Gaza.

Blinken’s visit comes amidst political developments in Israel, including the resignation of Benny Gantz from Prime Minister Netanyahu’s emergency government on Sunday.

Gantz’s departure removes a centrist influence from the predominantly far-right coalition, potentially complicating Netanyahu’s reliance on hardliners amid the ongoing conflict and the threat of increased hostilities with Lebanese Hezbollah.

Blinken will later this week visit Jordan and Qatar, in continuation of his diplomatic mission in the Middle East.