Blinken Meets Sisi in Cairo Today to Discuss Hostage Deal Updates

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Cairo today, Tuesday, for a meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi as the United States works to make progress toward an agreement mediated by Egypt and Qatar for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages. Blinken departed Riyadh this morning. His day is expected to be marathon-like, as he will visit both Egypt and Qatar before heading to Israel to discuss negotiations for the release of hostages, plans related to post-war Gaza, and prospects for normalizing relations between Arab countries and Israel. This marks Blinken's fifth trip to the region since October, as the United States continues its campaign to respond to Iranian-allied factions that have launched attacks, resulting in the death of American forces last month at a military site in Jordan. Washington views a potential ceasefire for the release of remaining hostages taken by the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on October 7 and cessation of fighting in Gaza as key to advancing other challenges, such as Gaza’s governance post-war, the pathway to a Palestinian state, and reaching an agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia for normalizing relations.