Egypt, US officials discuss cease-fire efforts in Gaza

By Ibrahim Khazen

CAIRO (AA) - Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi met with US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Brett McGurk, the US Middle East and North Africa Coordinator, in Cairo on Saturday to discuss efforts to broker a cease-fire agreement in Gaza.

The meeting, attended by Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, Egyptian Intelligence Chief Hassan Rashad, and US Ambassador to Egypt Herro Mustafa Garg, focused on recent regional developments and joint efforts to establish a cease-fire and facilitate the exchange of detainees in Gaza, according to a statement from the Egyptian Presidency.

Sullivan arrived in Cairo after visiting Doha and Israel earlier this week, as Egypt, Qatar, and the US continue their mediation efforts to resolve the crisis in Gaza despite persistent Israeli resistance.

President Sisi emphasized the urgency of delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza, especially with the onset of winter, and reiterated the two-state solution as the foundation for achieving peace and stability in the Middle East.

Discussions also touched on maintaining the fragile cease-fire in Lebanon and its potential as a starting point for broader regional de-escalation, as well as developments in Syria.

Sisi underscored the importance of preserving Syria's territorial integrity and ensuring the security of its people amidst ongoing changes in the region.

The talks came at a time when significant political shifts occurred in Syria, where Bashar Assad, Syria’s leader for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia after anti-regime groups took control of Damascus on Dec. 8, ending the Baath Party regime, which had been in power in Syria since 1963.

Israel has launched a genocidal war on the Gaza Strip that has killed more than 44,800 victims, mostly women and children, since an attack by the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas, on Oct. 7, 2023.

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants last month for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense chief Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on Gaza.

*Writing by Ikram Kouachi