U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken hopes to advance efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and strengthen ties with Egypt when he visits Cairo on Wednesday, his spokesman said, amid concern about escalating Middle East tensions.

During his visit, Blinken met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and other senior officials. According to State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller, Blinken’s discussions in Cairo focused on finding a cease-fire proposal acceptable to both Israel and Hamas.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is focusing on brokering a ceasefire in Gaza and strengthening U.S.-Egypt relations during his visit to Cairo. Amid heightened Middle East tensions, Blinken met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and officials to discuss proposals for an Israel-Hamas ceasefire and hostages' release.

On his 10th trip to the Middle East since the start of the war in Gaza nearly a year ago, Blinken will address negotiation efforts with Egyptian officials, according to the U.S. State Department

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in Cairo on Wednesday to try to salvage efforts for a ceasefire in Gaza that have been further complicated by a wave of deadly blasts targeting Hezbollah in Lebanon.