US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrives in Egypt for Gaza ceasefire push

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Egypt on Monday at a critical juncture as Washington seeks to increase pressure on Hamas and Israel to reach a ceasefire in Gaza and prevent the conflict from expanding into Lebanon. This marks Blinken's eighth visit to the region since Hamas militants attacked Israel on October 7, triggering the bloodiest episode in the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

During his visit, Blinken is scheduled to meet with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Cairo before traveling to Israel later on Monday. In Israel, he will meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, according to a State Department schedule. Blinken's itinerary also includes stops in Jordan and Qatar this week.

Why This Matters: The visit follows US President Joe Biden's May 31 outline of a three-phase ceasefire proposal from Israel. The proposal envisions a permanent end to hostilities, the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, and the reconstruction of Gaza.

The conflict has seen devastating casualties on both sides. The Hamas attack on October 7 resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people and the taking of approximately 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. In response, Israel launched an assault on the Gaza Strip that has killed more than 37,000 Palestinians, according to the territory's health ministry as of Sunday, and has left the enclave in ruins.

In a recent development, Israeli forces rescued four hostages held by Hamas in a raid in Gaza on Saturday, during which 274 Palestinians were killed, according to Gaza’s health ministry.

Blinken's trip comes in the wake of Israeli minister Benny Gantz's resignation from Prime Minister Netanyahu’s emergency government on Sunday. Gantz's departure removes the only centrist power from Netanyahu's otherwise far-right coalition during the ongoing war in Gaza. While Gantz's resignation does not pose an immediate threat to the government, it could have significant implications, leaving Netanyahu reliant on hardliners with no end in sight to the war and a potential escalation in fighting with Lebanese Hezbollah.

The conflict between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah has been dangerously poised after more than eight months of fighting triggered by the Gaza war, with hostilities escalating and both sides signaling readiness for a larger confrontation.

During his trip, Blinken will discuss with regional partners the need to reach a ceasefire agreement that secures the release of all hostages and prevents further escalation of the conflict, according to State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller. Blinken will emphasize the importance of Hamas accepting the ceasefire proposal on the table.

Ceasefire talks have intensified since Biden’s speech, with CIA Director William Burns meeting senior officials from mediators Qatar and Egypt on Wednesday in Doha to discuss the plan.

Key Takeaways:

• Blinken visits Egypt to push for Gaza ceasefire and prevent conflict expansion.
• Blinken to meet with leaders in Egypt, Israel, Jordan, and Qatar this week.
• Biden's ceasefire proposal includes ending hostilities and releasing hostages.
• Israeli assault on Gaza has killed over 37,000 Palestinians, health ministry reports.
• Gantz's resignation leaves Netanyahu reliant on hardliners amid ongoing conflict.