Egypt’s government is urging the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas and the government of Israel to show “flexibility” in order to reach a cease-fire agreement “as soon as possible”, which will be accompanied by the release of hostages, according to a foreign ministry statement in Cairo.

During his telephone conversation with his US counterpart Anthony Blinken, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry underlined the “importance” of “urging the parties to show flexibility and make all necessary efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement in order to end the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza,” according to the press release of his services.

Egypt considers that the indirect negotiations it hosted in Cairo that did not allow a ceasefire agreement to be concluded are in a “delicate phase”.

The delegations of Hamas and Israel left the Egyptian capital.

Cairo also expressed concern over the “dangers” of the threatened large-scale operation in Rafah, on the Gaza Strip’s border with Egypt. This attack threatens the “stability and security” of the entire region, according to Egyptian diplomacy.

During the conversation, Mr. Blinken reaffirmed President Joe Biden’s “clear position that the United States does not support a major military operation in Rafah and (…) rejects any forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza,” he said. rep for Matthew Miller.

On Tuesday, the Israeli army deployed tanks and seized control of a border crossing with Egypt, closing the main entry gate for aid convoys into the besieged Palestinian enclave.