Blinken to visit Saudi Arabia, Egypt for Gaza ceasefire talks

Antony Blinken, the U.S. Secretary of State, is set to visit Saudi Arabia and Egypt this week with the aim of discussing a ceasefire in Gaza and enhancing humanitarian support for the area, according to a statement from State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller. Blinken’s journey includes a meeting with Saudi officials in Jeddah on Wednesday, followed by discussions with Egyptian leaders in Cairo on Thursday.

This marks Blinken’s sixth Middle Eastern trip since the conflict between Israel and Hamas began on October 7. The focus of these discussions will be on achieving an immediate ceasefire that includes the release of all hostages, boosting international humanitarian aid for Gaza, and strategizing on how to prevent Hamas from governing and launching future attacks.

Additionally, Blinken intends to address the broader political future of the Palestinian people, including security arrangements with Israel and establishing a framework for lasting peace in the region. He will also tackle the issue of stopping attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on commercial shipping to ensure stability in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

This announcement follows recent developments, including a meeting between Israel’s Mossad chief, David Barnea, and top officials in Qatar and Egypt in Doha, centering around Hamas’s proposal for a six-week truce and negotiations for the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.

The conflict, which escalated from an attack by Hamas on October 7, resulted in significant casualties and has led to a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with the United Nations warning of a potential famine and difficulties in delivering aid to the region.