CAIRO: Government ministers from five Arab countries met in Cairo with a Palestinian official on Thursday to discuss efforts to end the ongoing conflict in Gaza, Egypt’s foreign ministry said. The meeting, chaired by Egyptian officials, aimed to address the urgent need for a ceasefire in Gaza and ensure the delivery of essential aid to the region.
According to Ahmed Abuzeid, the spokesman for Egypt’s foreign ministry, the discussions focussed on “needed efforts to stop (the) Israeli war and reach a ceasefire in Gaza and ensure full aid delivery.”
The meeting precedes scheduled talks with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is currently on his sixth regional tour since the onset of the conflict in Gaza on October 7. Blinken is visiting Egypt to engage in discussions aimed at addressing the crisis and facilitating humanitarian assistance to the affected Palestinian population.
During separate meetings with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, Blinken discussed ongoing efforts to protect Palestinian civilians and humanitarian workers in Gaza. The discussions also focused on securing an immediate ceasefire, which would include the release of hostages held by the Palestinian resistance group Hamas.
Gaza Truce Talks in Qatar
Egypt, serving as a key mediator, has been facilitating talks in Qatar aimed at achieving a six-week truce in the Gaza conflict. The proposed ceasefire would enable the exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel and facilitate increased aid deliveries to Gaza, where UN agencies have warned of an impending humanitarian crisis.
Since the start of Israel’s military offensive in Gaza, casualties have surged, with nearly 32,000 Palestinians killed, mostly women and children, according to Gaza’s health ministry. The region’s dire situation has prompted concerns of an imminent famine, with UN rights chief Volker Turk expressing apprehension that Israel may be employing starvation as a method of war.
Despite international calls for an immediate ceasefire, the United States, a staunch supporter of Israel, has previously utilized its veto power in the UN Security Council to block resolutions advocating for an end to the conflict in Gaza.
Today in Cairo, I met with President @AlSisiOfficial and Foreign Minister Shoukry to discuss our ongoing efforts to reach a ceasefire deal that includes the release of hostages, and would allow a sustained increase in aid for Gaza. pic.twitter.com/gqu8Jw5nTh
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) March 21, 2024
