CAIRO, May 10 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed the recent security and humanitarian developments in Rafah and the Cairo-hosted talks on Gaza ceasefire, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement Friday.
In a phone conversation late Thursday, the two diplomats agreed to maintain close consultation and coordination to push the concerned parties towards reaching a comprehensive truce in the Gaza Strip, and put an end to the humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian enclave.
According to the statement, Shoukry reiterated the danger of the Israeli military operation in Rafah and the Israeli control of the crossing from the Palestinian side, highlighting the humanitarian repercussions affecting more than 1.4 million Palestinians, as well as the broader implications for regional security and stability.
Blinken expressed the United States' support for the reopening of Rafah crossing and the continued flow of urgently needed humanitarian assistance.
The two sides stressed their rejection of the forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza.
The delegations of Hamas, Israel, Qatar and the United States left Egypt on Thursday after talks for reaching a truce in the Gaza Strip hit an impasse. ■
