NNA – US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has landed in Cairo for his meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi as the United States works to advance a Gaza truce and hostage deal mediated by the Egyptians and Qataris.
Mr Blinken departed Riyadh shortly after sunrise for what is set to be a marathon day visiting Egypt and Qatar before flying to Israel to discuss hostage negotiations, post-war Gaza plans and the prospect of Arab countries and Israel normalising ties.
Mr Blinken#39;s fifth trip to the region since October comes as the United States presses ahead with its retaliatory campaign against Iran-aligned militia which had attacked last month and killed US troops in a military outpost in Jordan.
The US sees a possible truce to free remaining hostages Hamas kidnapped on 7 October and pause fighting in Gaza as key to progress on other challenges, such as the governance of post-war Gaza, a path towards Palestinian statehood and a deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia to normalize their relationship.
Shellings and raids continued this morning as Israel presses to eradicate Hamas in the wake of the militants#39; unprecedented 7 October attack.
quot;No place is safe, no place at all, where shall we go?quot; Palestinian Mohamad Kozaat said after six members of his family, including his daughter, were injured in an Israeli strike on the border town.
At least 99 people, mostly women and children, were killed in Israeli strikes overnight according to the health ministry in the Hamas-ruled territory.–agenciesnbsp;
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