Egypt says any step towards calm must lead to full cease-fire in Mideast

By Ibrahim al-Khazen

ISTANBUL (AA) – Egypt said any step for calm must eventually lead to a full cease-fire in the Middle East region, according to an Egyptian source on Tuesday.

The head of Israel’s Shin Bet domestic security service, Ronen Bar, presented a proposal floated by Egypt to initiate Gaza cease-fire talks during a cabinet meeting on Monday, the Walla news portal reported.

The proposal includes outlines for a temporary cease-fire deal in return for the release of several Israeli captives held by the Palestinian group.

Egypt has not confirmed the proposal.

"Egypt underlines the importance of quickly reaching a cease-fire deal and bringing aid into the Gaza Strip,” said the state-affiliated Al-Qahera News channel, citing a high-level source.

"Egypt insists that any steps towards calm must lead to a comprehensive cease-fire in the region,” added the unnamed source.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Israel on Tuesday on his first leg of a regional tour to revive Gaza cease-fire talks between Tel Aviv and Hamas.

"On my way to Israel and other stops in the Middle East for intensive discussions about the importance of ending the war in Gaza, returning the hostages to their families, and alleviating the suffering of the Palestinian people,” Blinken said on X before his departure.

Mediation efforts led by the US, Egypt and Qatar to reach a Gaza cease-fire and prisoner swap agreement between Israel and Hamas have failed over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s refusal to halt the war.

Regional tensions have escalated due to Israel’s brutal offensive on the Gaza Strip, which has killed over 42,700 people, mostly women and children, following a Hamas attack last year.

As the conflict spread to Lebanon with Israel launching deadly strikes across the country, nearly 2,500 people have been killed and more than 11,500 others injured in Israeli attacks since last year, according to Lebanese health authorities.

Despite international warnings that the Middle East region was on the brink of a regional war amid Israel’s relentless attacks on Gaza and Lebanon, Tel Aviv expanded the conflict by launching on Oct. 1 a ground assault into southern Lebanon.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar