Blinken travels to Egypt to discuss efforts toward a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip

September 17 (EUROPA PRESS) –

U.S. State Department Secretary Antony Blinken will begin a two-day trip to Egypt on Tuesday, where he will discuss ongoing efforts toward a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, where Israeli bombardments have killed more than 41,200 people in less than a year.

“(Blinken) will meet with Egyptian officials to discuss ongoing efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza that will ensure the release of all hostages, alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people, and help establish broader regional security,” reads a statement from his spokesman, Matthew Miller.

The head of US diplomacy will hold these consultations within the framework of the Strategic Dialogue between Washington and Cairo with his Egyptian counterpart, Badr Abdelatty, which aims to strengthen bilateral relations and deepen economic development, as well as ties between peoples through culture and education.

His visit will skip a stop in Israel amid growing doubts that a ceasefire deal can be reached, marking the first time since Oct. 7 that Blinken has visited the Middle East without stopping in Israel, where he has used his visits to press the Israeli government on the issues.