US Secretary of State Antony Blinken departed for Egypt on Tuesday for a visit to the Middle East that notably excludes a stop in Israel. This marks the first time since the October 7 attacks that Blinken has visited the region without including Israel in his itinerary. Typically, Blinken's visits to Israel are aimed at pressing the Israeli government on critical issues related to the ongoing conflict, such as the ceasefire and hostage deal.
However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been resistant to the administration's efforts, leading to doubts about reaching a resolution before President Joe Biden leaves office. The State Department announced that Blinken will meet with Egyptian officials to discuss ongoing efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza, secure the release of hostages, and address the suffering of the Palestinian people.
In addition to his meetings with Egyptian officials, Blinken will co-chair the opening of the U.S.-Egypt Strategic Dialogue to strengthen bilateral relations, promote economic development, and enhance cultural and educational ties between the two countries.
Despite Egypt's crucial role in the ceasefire negotiations, a major breakthrough is unlikely during Blinken's visit, as the agreement hinges on the political will of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield emphasized that reaching an agreement is dependent on political will.
The families of US hostages held by Hamas are advocating for a swift resolution, but a concrete timeline for the next steps remains uncertain. The US proposal to bridge the differences between Israel and Hamas has yet to be presented to both parties, with new demands reportedly complicating the negotiations.
While US officials have expressed optimism about resolving the remaining issues, recent developments, including Netanyahu's statements and Hamas' reaffirmation of fighting Israel, have cast doubt on the prospects of a swift agreement. The Biden administration continues to work with Egyptian and Qatari counterparts to address the remaining challenges and bring the parties closer to a ceasefire deal.
Despite the ongoing efforts, there are concerns about the stalled progress in the negotiations, with no immediate plans to present an updated proposal to President Biden. The US remains committed to working towards a resolution but acknowledges the complexity of the remaining issues in the ceasefire negotiations.
