Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to travel to Egypt later this week to participate in talks aimed at securing a Gaza cease-fire and negotiating a hostage release deal, as confirmed by the State Department. His trip, scheduled from Wednesday to Friday, will also include co-chairing the opening session of the U.S.-Egypt Strategic Dialogue alongside Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty.
During the visit, Blinken will engage with Egyptian officials on efforts to establish a ceasefire in Gaza, ensure the release of all hostages, reduce the hardships faced by Palestinians, and promote regional stability.
Despite ongoing efforts, there is no specific timeline for the ceasefire proposal, according to State Department spokesperson Matt Miller. He indicated that discussions are continuing with regional partners, particularly Egypt and Qatar, to formulate a proposal capable of bringing both parties to an agreement. The delay stems from challenges such as the security situation in the Philadelphi corridor and negotiations over the number of hostages and Palestinian prisoners to be released.
In other developments, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant warned U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin that the situation at the Israel-Lebanon border is becoming more critical, with Hezbollah aligning itself more closely with Hamas. Gallant suggested that diplomatic efforts are running out of time.
Meanwhile, Israel’s military confirmed that a missile launched by the Houthis from Yemen was intercepted before it could cause significant damage. Initially, it was believed that the missile had bypassed Israeli defenses, but further review showed that it had been hit by an interceptor. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to retaliate against the Houthis for the attack, pledging to exact a “high price” for any assaults on Israeli territory.
Lastly, the Israeli Defense Forces revealed the results of an investigation that concluded three hostages were likely killed during an airstrike targeting a Hamas commander in Gaza in November. The strike inadvertently affected the location where the hostages were being held.
