US Secretary of State returns to Egypt to seek solution for Gaza ceasefire

On September 18, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in the Egyptian capital Cairo to seek ways to salvage ceasefire efforts in Gaza.

This is Mr. Blinken's 10th trip to the Middle East since the conflict in Gaza broke out nearly a year ago.

Secretary Blinken met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and will hold a press conference with the host country's Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty.

According to the US State Department, the purpose of Mr. Blinken's visit is to work with Egyptian officials to promote negotiating efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas forces in Gaza.

US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller made it clear that Mr. Blinken's agenda will include many contents, including how to come up with a proposal that can be accepted by all parties.

Mr. Miller did not disclose a time frame for a new proposal but made it clear that Washington wanted a workable proposal and that it was crucial that the parties stop haggling with each other.

There are currently two major sticking points in the talks: Israel's refusal to withdraw from the Philadelphia corridor along the border between Egypt and the Gaza Strip and details surrounding the prisoner exchange in response to Hamas' new demands.

For months, the United States, along with Egypt and Qatar, has stepped up efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, thereby preventing the conflict from escalating and spreading in the Middle East.

However, the parties have yet to reach an agreement based on the proposal made by the US in May, forcing US officials to work on a new proposal.

In addition to the ceasefire agreement in Gaza, during the visit, Secretary of State Blinken will also discuss strengthening bilateral relations with Egypt, a strategic partner of the United States.