Secretary of State Antony Blinken is embarking on his 10th trip to the Middle East since the conflict in Gaza began nearly a year ago. This visit is focused on refining a proposal for a cease-fire deal and the release of hostages involving Israel and Hamas. Unlike previous missions, there are no optimistic projections for a breakthrough this time.
Blinken will meet with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty in Egypt to discuss American-Egyptian relations and Gaza consultations. The Biden administration, along with Egypt and Qatar, is working on a revised proposal to facilitate a six-week cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, aiming to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
