By Matthew Lee | Associated Press
CAIRO — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken huddled Thursday with top Arab diplomats in Cairo to discuss post-conflict plans for Gaza as relations between the United States and Israel soured further over Israel’s war against Hamas, notably its intent to mount a major military operation against the southern city of Rafah.
Amid what Blinken said were hopeful signs that a deal for a cease-fire in exchange for the release of Hamas-held hostages could be reached, he met the foreign ministers of Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates to go over ideas for Gaza’s future. A top official from the Palestine Liberation Organization, the internationally recognized body representing the Palestinian people, also attended.
In addition to Gaza’s future, the ministers were expected to discuss the cease-fire talks and increase urgent humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza by land, air and sea.
The outcome of the meeting was not immediately clear, although Blinken and Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry were expected to address and take questions from reporters after nightfall, when daylight fasting for Muslims observing the holy month of Ramadan ends.
In an earlier meeting with Blinken, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi stressed the need for an immediate cease-fire and warned against the “dangerous repercussions” of any Israeli offensive in Rafah, according to a statement issued by el-Sissi’s spokesperson.
Both parties had renewed their rejection of the forced displacement of Gazans and agreed on the importance of taking all necessary measures to ensure the arrival of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, the statement said.
As Blinken and the Arab ministers met, Gaza’s Health Ministry raised the territory’s death toll to nearly 32,000 Palestinians since the war began in October when Israel responded to deadly Hamas attacks on its soil. Also, U.N. officials stepped up warnings that famine…
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