US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will return to Egypt on Wednesday but his visit to the region will notably omit a stop in Israel, amid rising doubts that a ceasefire and hostage deal can be agreed to before President Joe Biden leaves office. This is the first time since the October 7 attacks that Blinken has visited the Middle East without visiting Israel.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken visits the Middle East in his latest attempt to secure a cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas with the support of Egypt and Qatar, though no breakthroughs are expected.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to Egypt on Tuesday to discuss a Gaza ceasefire and release of hostages with Egyptian officials, the State Department said. Washington and mediators Qatar and Egypt have for months sought to reach a deal between Israel and Palestinian Islamist group Hamas to halt the war and release Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners.