US rebukes sceptics of ceasefire talks as diplomats meet in Egypt

The Biden administration rebuked sceptics of its efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza on Friday, saying a flurry of media leaks suggesting that negotiations had all but collapsed were “inaccurate”.

“The process is moving forward in the way we had outlined,” US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said. “There has been progress made. We need now for both sides to come together and work towards implementation.”

Kirby said ongoing talks in Cairo had been “constructive”. He confirmed two of the White House's top negotiators, CIA director Bill Burns and top Middle East advisor Brett McGurk, were in Egypt's capital.

The officials met with Egyptian spy chief Abbas Kamel, as the fate of the border between Egypt and Gaza emerges as the latest stumbling block to a ceasefire deal.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted that Israel maintain control of the border area called the Philadelphi Corridor, putting Israel at odds with both Hamas and Egypt.

Read more: US rebukes sceptics of ceasefire talks as diplomats meet in Egypt