Kerry leaves Cairo after progress toward Israeli-Hamas ceasefire
Kerry came to Cairo on a three-day visit during which he met with several officials within efforts to end Israeli agression in Gaza.
Kerry met in Cairo with UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, who was in Cairo on Tuesday, Foreign Minister Sameh Shokry, Arab League Chief Nabil al-Araby and President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
Several western and international officials have been visiting Cairo since the start of Israeli shelling of Gaza on 7 July to tackle the situation there, mull the Egyptian initiative on ceasefire.
“We have certainly made some steps forward.” There is still work to be done, Kerry said upon his arrival in Tel Aviv.
Kerry called for the reapplication of the truce agreement that was signed in 2012 at the time of former President Mohamed Morsy.
“The crisis in Gaza is growing worse by the day,” he said. “We are committed to US$47 million in humanitarian aid.”
“A cease-fire is not enough,” he added. “We must address all the issues underlying the conflict through constructive meetings.”
Shokry said Egypt and the United States have agreed to push the Israelis and the Palestinians to stop fighting.
At least 600 Palestinians and 27 Israelis were killed during the Israeli operations in the Gaza Strip since 8 July.
Hamas has rejected an Egyptian initiative for a cease-fire because it did not state the opening of the border crossings and the release of Palestinian detainees.
Kerry added on Tuesday that Washington supports Israel's right to defend itself against Palestinian rockets fired from the Gaza Strip.
