Blinken urges release of all hostages – DW – 10/21/2023

Egypt is holding a summit on the Gaza crisis on Saturday amid growing fears of a wider Middle East war.

The hastily convened Cairo Peace Summit will bring several Arab and European heads of state and government together alongside foreign ministers — including Germany’s top diplomat Annalena Baerbock.

But without an Israeli or US representative planning to attend, expectations of what the summit can achieve have been dampened.

Egypt has been trying to channel humanitarian relief to Gaza through the Rafah crossing, the strip’s only access point not controlled by Israel, but aid has piled up on the Egyptian side.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Jordanian King Abdullah have announced plans to attend. China and Russia will also be represented.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, European Council President Charles Michel and European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell will join the summit.

Arab countries have voiced anger at Israel’s unprecedented bombardment and siege of Gaza following the October 7 terror attack by the Islamist militant group Hamas on Israel.

El-Sissi has expressed concern that any forced displacement of Palestinians into Egypt’s Sinai could turn the peninsula into a base for attacks against Israel.

Several countries, including Germany, have warned of the risks of the Gaza crisis sparking a wider regional conflict.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed that two American hostages released by militant group Hamas for “humanitarian reasons” will be met by US Embassy officials in Israel.

Hamas on Friday said it released two American women, Judith and Natalie Raanan, who were held hostage. Their release was confirmed by Israel. 

Blinken confirmed that 10 Americans remain missing and that some are being held captive by Hamas militants.

“There are still 10 additional Americans who remain unaccounted for in this conflict,” he told a White House press conference. “We know that some of them are being held hostage by Hamas, along with an estimated 200 other hostages held in Gaza.”

He called for the “immediate and unconditional release” of all hostages.

When asked whether Hamas are following the rules of war in Gaza, Blinken said there will be plenty of time to assess how their operations have been conducted.

ms, mm/wd (AP, AFP, Reuters, dpa)