May 30, 2021 - World

Israel, Egypt discuss prolonging ceasefire in Gaza

Orion Rummler

Two men and one woman sit at a table while wearing masks — Foreign Affairs Minister of Israel Gabi Ashkenazi, second left, and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt Sameh Shoukry, not pictured, attend an inter delegations meeting in Cairo on May 30. Photo: Stringer/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Israel and Egypt's foreign ministers on Sunday held high-level talks about prolonging the current ceasefire between Hamas and the Israeli military and finding a potential "fragile truce," AP reports.

Why it matters: The White House found Egypt to be the only effective mediator to facilitate the ceasefire earlier this month, as the Biden administration charted its response.

What they're saying: Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi called this his first formal visit to Egypt since 2008 and said discussions were focused on "establishing a permanent ceasefire with Hamas, a mechanism for providing humanitarian aid & the reconstruction of Gaza with a pivotal role played by the intl. community."

Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel plans to meet with Palestinian officials before traveling to Gaza for discussions with Hamas leaders, per AP. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Kamel in Jerusalem as part of ceasefire efforts.

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Israel, Egypt discuss prolonging ceasefire in Gaza

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