US engaging Egypt, Qatar to achieve sustained ceasefire in Gaza - envoy

The United States government is in the midst of brokering a sustained ceasefire in Gaza and working closely with its partners, Egypt and Qatar.

The United States Ambassador to Malaysia, Edgard D Kagan, said it is a concerted effort by all parties to ensure a lasting ceasefire can be fully implemented.

“...you know, ultimately what people want to know is what are we doing now? And what we’re doing now is working very, very hard with our partners, the Egyptians and the Qataris, to try and bring about a meaningful and sustained ceasefire.

“I think it's important to recognise this is not something that will only be done by one side. There needs to be action on both sides and we’re working with our partners to try and make sure that gets done,” he said.

Kagan (above) said this on Bernama TV’s “The Nation” programme during his inaugural visit to the national news agency’s headquarters in Kuala Lumpur today.

Elaborating further, the career diplomat said the US government is actively participating in providing humanitarian aid to Gaza.

“We are also very conscious and very concerned about the humanitarian tragedy that is happening in Gaza, and we’re working very hard with partners to try and bring about the surge of humanitarian assistance, including by building a facility that will allow the unloading of greater amounts of humanitarian aid.

“We're participating in airdrops and I think you’ve seen that the US is trying to show diplomatic leadership,” he said.

In early March, the US Defence Department announced it would undertake an emergency mission to establish a temporary pier on the coast of Gaza to deliver up to two million humanitarian aid meals per day, according to Anadolu Agency (AA).

Kagan presented his credentials as US Ambadassor to Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar on March 24.

- Bernama