Blinken meets Egypt s Sisi as U S seeks to secure Gaza ceasefire ynetnews.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from ynetnews.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Biden thanked al-Sisi for Egypt’s “successful diplomacy and coordination with the United States to end the recent hostilities in Israel and Gaza and ensure violence does not reoccur,” according to a readout of the call from the White House.
The leaders also discussed the “urgent need” to administer humanitarian assistance to people in Gaza, and “support rebuilding efforts” in a way that “benefits the people there and not Hamas.”
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The readout comes as the same day The White House announced that Secretary of State Antony Blinken
Israel and Hamas agreed to a cease-fire on Thursday, ending more than a week of violence marked by missile strikes and rocket fire in the Gaza Strip and Israel.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has arrived in Israel at the start of a Middle East tour aimed at strengthening last week’s ceasefire with Hamas and start an immediate flow of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.
President Joe Biden announced that he was dispatching Blinken to the region for what will be his administration s highest-level, in-person talks on the crisis that erupted earlier this month. The White House said later that Biden had spoken to Egypt s president, one of several leaders Blinken will meet on his trip, to underscore the importance of getting assistance to Gaza.
The State Department said Blinken will visit Israel, the West Bank, Jordan and Egypt on a trip that comes as the administration has faced broad criticism for its initial response to the deadly violence.
Tuesday, 25 May, 2021 - 09:15
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry speaks at a press conference in Ramallah (AFP) Amman - London - Asharq Al-Awsat
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry arrived Monday in Ramallah where he met with President Mahmoud Abbas and discussed the recent developments and the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
Ministry spokesman Ahmed Hafez said the visit comes within the framework of continuing efforts to ensure the ceasefire holds and rebuild Gaza after the recent Israeli airstrikes.
Shoukry called for serious negotiations that lead to a “comprehensive and just peace” which will guarantee the two-state solution and restore peace and stability.