Anthony Blinken meets Egyptian leaders, pushing for progress on ceasefire deal

US Secretary of State – Anthony Blinken met Egyptian leaders on Tuesday amid growing concerns in Egypt as Israel intends to expand the war in Gaza to areas along the Egyptian border. The areas are populated by displaced Palestinians. 

Blinken’s diplomatic tour to the Middle East is a part of his efforts to secure a ceasefire deal in the Israel-Hamas war in exchange for the release of hostages. 

Israel’s defence minister issued a statement and said that Israeli militants reached the city of Rafah on the Egyptian border. He added that the area was occupied by more than half of Gaza’s 2.3 million people, who have taken refuge there. 

Noting this, they are now living in ever-worsening conditions. On Tuesday, UN Humanitarian monitors stated that Israeli evacuation orders are now covering two-thirds of Gaza’s area of land and sending thousands of people to the border daily. 

It is to be noted that a peace treaty was signed between Egypt and Israel, but despite this, Israeli forces threatened to spike the war on the border area. 

Frightened Palestinian civilians could suffer across the border due to the chances of an expansion of the war in the Rafah area. A situation in Egypt is determined to prevent. 

Blinken engaged in a talk with the Egyptian President, Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, in Cairo. As a matter of concern, he emphasized that Palestinians should not be expelled from Gaza. 

Death Toll to date 

According to the Health Ministry in the Hamas-run territory, the four months of continued war resulted in 27,585 deaths. Out of them, around 107 bodies of people have been brought to the hospital to date. The ministry further estimated that most of the dead included women and children. 

If sources are to be believed, it has been said that Israel is determined to continue the war until it squashes Hamas’ military and all the governing bodies. Israeli forces opt every possible measure to win back 100-plus hostages who are still held by the militant group. 

Additionally, Hamas and other militants killed approximately 1,200 people, mostly civilians, on October 7, which sparked the war. Moreover, dozens of militants were killed across the Gaza Strip, including the southern city of Khan Younis, by the troops over some days.