US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken arrived today in the Egyptian city of El Alamein as part of a tour aimed at persuading the parties to the conflict in the Gaza Strip to accept a cessation of hostilities accompanied by an exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, AFP reported, quoted by BTA.
The head of American diplomacy arrived directly from Tel Aviv, where he spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. According to Blinken, Netanyahu confirmed that "Israel accepts the compromise plan" for a truce presented last week by Washington. The US Secretary of State called on the Palestinian Islamist movement "Hamas" "to do the same".
Blinken is expected to meet with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Foreign Minister Badr Abdelati.