Amidst the escalating conflict between Israel and Hamas, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has emphasized the need for a ceasefire to halt the spread of violence across West Asia. His trip to Cairo marks his tenth visit to the region since the beginning of the war, fueled by Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel. The goal of this trip is to revive stalled negotiations facilitated by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, aiming to bring the conflict to an end.
During a joint press conference with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, Blinken highlighted the crucial role of a ceasefire in addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and stabilizing the region. He expressed determination to work alongside Qatari counterparts to achieve this critical outcome.
Following the meeting, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi’s office issued a statement emphasizing the shared goal of Egypt, the US, and Qatar to progress ceasefire negotiations, facilitating the exchange of hostages and detainees. The statement also urged decisive intervention to remove obstacles hindering the flow of aid into Gaza and to end Israeli violations in the West Bank.
Blinken’s arrival in Cairo coincided with a series of explosions in Lebanon, targeting pagers used by Hezbollah members. The blasts resulted in 12 fatalities and over 2,750 injuries. Hezbollah, blaming Israel for the attacks, has called for an investigation.
Addressing these incidents, Blinken categorically denied any prior knowledge or involvement of the US in the Lebanese explosions, reiterating the US commitment to preventing further escalation of the conflict. He stressed that the US is actively gathering information and investigating the facts surrounding the explosions.
Despite the denials, reports emerged from US news site Axios, suggesting a potential connection between the blasts and an operation in Lebanon. According to the report, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant informed his US counterpart, Lloyd Austin, of an imminent operation in Lebanon minutes before the explosions, although details of the operation were not disclosed.
While Israel has yet to comment on the blasts, Blinken’s visit to Cairo underscores the critical need for a negotiated solution to the conflict, with a ceasefire as the primary focus to prevent further bloodshed and instability in the region.
