US Secretary of State Antony Blinken began his tour of the Middle East on Wednesday, his sixth visit to the region since October 7.
The aim is to reach an agreement for a temporary pause in the fighting in order to facilitate the release of hostages held by Hamas.
During his tour of the Middle East, Antony Blinken met Saudi leaders in Jeddah on Wednesday, followed by Egyptian leaders in Cairo on Thursday.
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A visit to Israel is also scheduled for this Friday, a visit that was not initially planned.
The aim of these meetings is to discuss the truce negotiations in the Gaza Strip, where Egypt and Qatar have played a crucial role as mediators.
State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement that the talks would also include efforts to increase humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Blinken had told a Saudi media outlet on Wednesday that the United States had presented a draft resolution to the members of the UN Security Council calling for an “immediate ceasefire linked to the release of the hostages” in Gaza. This change of position is a first for the United States, a historic ally of Israel.
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Malo Pinatel, with AFP
