Blinken to travel to Saudi Arabia, Egypt to discuss Gaza truce

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Saudi Arabia on Wednesday and travel to Egypt on Thursday to discuss with the authorities of these countries the issue of a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and an increase in humanitarian aid, the State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said.

Report informs via TASS that Miller said the Secretary of State will discuss efforts to reach an agreement on an immediate ceasefire that includes the release of all remaining hostages, intensification of international efforts to increase humanitarian assistance to Gaza, and coordination of post-conflict planning mechanisms for Gaza, the press service said in a statement, as cited by Agence France-Presse (AFP). In particular, Miller said it is necessary to ensure that the radical Palestinian movement Hamas can no longer carry out attacks like the attack on Israel on October 7.

Blinken will discuss conditions for ensuring long-term peace and security in the region. In addition, the US Secretary of State will raise the issue of stopping attacks by the Yemeni Houthis on commercial ships in order to ensure security in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.