Hamas senior official Sami Abu Zuhri urged the United States on Monday to pressure Israel to end the war in Gaza, ahead of the planned visit by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to the region to push forward ceasefire efforts.
“We urge the U.S. administration to pressure Israel to halt the Gaza war,” stated senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri, expressing readiness to engage positively with any peace initiative.
In another related development, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken plans to visit Egypt and Israel on Monday, aiming to prevent the conflict from spreading to Lebanon.
Blinken, in his eighth visit to the region since Hamas militants attacked Israel on October 7, triggering the bloodiest episode in the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict, is also set to travel to Jordan and Qatar this week.
According to the State Department schedule, Blinken is scheduled to meet with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Cairo before heading to Israel later on Monday. There, he will meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
Blinken’s visit follows U.S. President Joe Biden’s announcement on May 31 of a three-phase ceasefire plan proposed by Israel. The plan aims for a lasting cessation of hostilities, the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, and the reconstruction of Gaza.
