Egyptian foreign minister, US counterpart discuss efforts 'to enforce a truce' in Gaza

By Ibrahim al-Khazen

ISTANBUL (AA) - Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry reviewed efforts to halt fighting in the Gaza Strip on Friday with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken according to an Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman.

"Both Ministers discussed joint efforts to enforce a truce leading to a cease-fire, detainees swap, as well the necessity to sustain full aid delivery to Gaza strip," Abu Zeid wrote on X about the telephone call from Blinken.

It came amid ongoing efforts by both countries, along with Qatar, to bridge differences between Israel and Hamas to reach a cease-fire and a prisoner swap deal before the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan begins Sunday.

Blinken also had a phone conversation with his Saudi counterpart and discussed developments in the Israeli war against Gaza.

Israel has launched a retaliatory offensive on Gaza since a cross-border attack by Hamas on Oct. 7. The offensive has killed more than 30,800 victims and injured nearly 73,000 amid mass destruction and shortages of necessities.

Israel has also imposed a crippling blockade on the Palestinian enclave, leaving its population, particularly residents of northern Gaza, on the verge of starvation.

About 85% of Gazans have been displaced by the Israeli onslaught amid acute shortages of food, clean water and medicine, while 60% of the enclave's infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, according to the UN.

Israel is accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice, which in an interim ruling in January ordered Tel Aviv to stop genocidal acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar