US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to visit Egypt and Israel on Monday at a critical time as Washington seeks to increase pressure on Hamas and Israel to reach a ceasefire in Gaza and ensure the war does not expand onto Lebanon. In his eighth visit to the region since October 7, the top US diplomat is also set to travel to Jordan and Qatar this week. Mr Blinken is set to meet with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi in Cairo before travelling to Israel.
