HomeOffice of the SpokespersonPress Releases...Secretary Blinken’s Call with Foreign Minister Shoukry of Egypt hide Secretary Blinken’s Call with Foreign Minister Shoukry of Egypt Readout Office of the Spokesperson December 19, 2023 The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller: Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry to affirm continued U.S.-Egypt cooperation on a broad range of shared priorities. The Secretary and the Foreign Minister discussed their shared commitment to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. The Secretary also expressed gratitude for Egypt’s essential role in increasing the volume of humanitarian aid and commercial products reaching Palestinians in Gaza, the release of hostages, and facilitating the safe cross-border exit of U.S. and other foreign nationals via Rafah. Secretary Blinken and Minister Shoukry discussed the importance of concrete steps to minimize harm to Palestinian civilians in all of Gaza and rejection of any forced displacement of Palestinians. They agreed to continue coordinating closely on developments in Gaza and on shared bilateral objectives. Tags Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs Egypt Israel-Hamas Conflict Office of the Spokesperson