August 20, 2024 09:23 GMT
Blinken In Egypt As Whistlestop Visits To Push Ceasefire Deal Continue
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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has arrived in Egypt as part of his latest whistlestop tour intended to push for a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Blinken will meet with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in El Alamein, before traveling to Doha for talks with Qatar's Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani.
- As MNI noted on 19 Aug, it would appear that Israel has accepted the latest 'bridging proposal' from the US (see 'SECURITY: Blinken Says Netanyahu Accepted "Bridging" Proposal For Gaza Ceasefire', 19 Aug 1837BST). Hamas, however, maintains that the deal is not acceptable due to changes demanded by the Israeli side.
- Blinken's trip comes as the IDF confirms that it has recovered the bodies of six Israeli hostages held by Hamas since the 7 October attacks. The captives' remains were found in the southern Gazan town of Khan Younis. Such incidents put increasing domestic pressure on Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu to reach a deal ASAP.
- Indirect talks involving Israel, but not Hamas, will resume this week (no date yet specified) in Cairo following last week's negotiations in Doha.
- Iran has said that even if a ceasefire deal is reached, it will still be within its rights to 'respond' to the killing of Hamas' Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. An Iranian attack on Israel could imperil a Gaza ceasefire, either reducing the chances of an agreement or risking an escalation should a ceasefire be in place by that point.
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