Arab foreign ministers, alongside a top Palestinian official, are scheduled to convene with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Cairo on Thursday, amidst his latest regional tour, in a bid to advocate for a cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Blinken’s agenda includes meetings with foreign ministers from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Jordan, in addition to the Emirati international cooperation minister and the secretary-general of the Palestinian Liberation Organization, as stated in a note from the Egyptian foreign ministry.
While the specifics of the meeting were not disclosed in the note, Egyptian security sources indicated that Arab nations intend to propose political solutions to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
These proposals, previously paused, are resurfacing as mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and the U.S. persist in their efforts to broker a ceasefire in Gaza and negotiate the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners.
Blinken reiterated his commitment to engaging in discussions concerning governance, security, and the reconstruction of post-conflict Gaza, alongside pursuing avenues for lasting regional peace during his tour, indicating a multifaceted approach to the complex situation.
Concurrently, negotiations for a ceasefire agreement persisted in Qatar this week following unsuccessful attempts to reach a consensus prior to the commencement of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
