US to meet with Egyptian, Israeli officials in Cairo next week over Gaza border issues – report

The US will hold a trilateral meeting with Egyptian and Israeli officials in Cairo next week on issues surrounding the Gaza-Egypt border and the Rafah Crossing, which has remained shuttered since the IDF took control of the Gazan side on May 7, Axios reports.

According to the report, the main goal of the meeting will be to find a solution to allow for the Rafah Crossing to be reopened for humanitarian aid, after Egypt said it would not agree to do so until the Gazan side was back under Palestinian control. At the same time, Axios adds, it will also focus on ensuring that Hamas can no longer smuggle weapons into the Gaza Strip from Egypt.

Maintaining the tenuous peace between Israel and Egypt is a top priority for US President Joe Biden, the report adds, as his administration sees Egypt as a key player in any plans for post-war Gaza.