Gaza war: Top US diplomat meets with leaders of Egypt, Saudi Arabia to secure Gaza ceasefire
Cairo, Egypt (PANA) - US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is continuing with his diplomatic efforts to secure an immediate ceasefire in Gaza for at least six weeks and the release of all hostages.
Some 32,000 people, more than half being children and women, have been killed in Gaza in an Israeli invasion and more than 74,000 injured, since 7 October when Hamas fired missiles into Israel and took dozens of hostages.
In separate meetings on Thursday in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, he also discussed ongoing efforts to protect Palestinian civilians and humanitarian workers in Gaza and Egypt’s essential leadership role in facilitating increased humanitarian assistance.
Mr. Blinken, at a meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, reiterated the United States’ rejection of any forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza and reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to work with Egypt to advance peace and regional stability, including through the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with security guarantees for Israel, a statement by the US Department of State said.
He also condemned the Houthi attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea and noted they do nothing to advance the cause of the Palestinian people.
Also in Cairo, Mr. Blinken met with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry in Cairo and consulted on how to advance a path to a Palestinian state with security guarantees for Israel.
The two top diplomats also discussed shared objectives for regional stability, including responding to Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, addressing instability in Libya, and ending the war in Sudan, the US State Department said.
Meanwhile, in Jeddah, Mr. Blinken met with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud in Jeddah on the crisis where he again underscored the importance of urgently addressing humanitarian needs in Gaza.
"The Secretary and the Crown Prince continued discussions on achieving lasting regional peace and security, including through greater integration among countries in the region and enhanced bilateral cooperation between the United States and Saudi Arabia," the statement said.
-0- PANA MA 22March2024
