US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is scheduled to land in Cairo on Monday, June 9, amid a crucial period as Washington aims to intensify pressure on Hamas and Israel to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and prevent the conflict from spilling over into Lebanon. This marks Blinken's eighth visit to the region, with plans to also visit Israel, Jordan, and Qatar this week. US President Joe Biden presented a three-phase ceasefire plan from Israel on May 31, which includes a permanent cessation of hostilities, the release of Israeli captives and Palestinian detainees, and the rebuilding of Gaza. Blinken's visit coincides with the announcement by Israeli Minister Benny Gantz of his resignation from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's emergency government, removing the sole centrist influence from the predominantly far-right coalition amidst the Gaza conflict. During his upcoming trip, Blinken will engage with regional partners to advocate for a ceasefire agreement that ensures the release of all hostages and prevents further escalation of the conflict, according to State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller. Miller emphasized the necessity for Hamas to accept the proposed plan. US officials suggest that since the plan originates from Israel, it is likely to be accepted by them. Qatar has urged Israel to provide a unified stance on the plan, as some factions within the government oppose any truce. Hamas has expressed a positive view of the proposed plan's content but criticized Washington for allegedly blaming the group for obstructing it. Ceasefire negotiations have gained momentum following Biden's address, with CIA Director William Burns meeting with senior officials from mediating countries Qatar and Egypt in Doha to discuss the plan. Despite Biden's frequent assertions that ceasefires were imminent over the past months, only one week-long truce was observed in November.