US Secretary of State John Kerry and his top aides were checked by Egyptian security officers using metal detectors at the Egyptian presidential palace in an unconventional diplomatic move.
Foreign officials normally trust US officials enough not to check them with such stringent security measures. Diplomatic immunity usually means that top officials are exempt from such checks because of their potential to be viewed a sign of distrust.
In footage obtained by Reuters, an Egyptian official raises a handheld metal-detecting implement to Kerry’s jacket before waving him through for the high-level meeting with newly-elected president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
The meeting, organised to discuss how to reach a ceasefire agreement in the ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel in the Gaza Strip, also saw Kerry’s aides herded through a stationary metal detector.
The aides who accompanied Kerry included his deputy chief of staff Jonathan Finer, adviser David Thorne and White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki.
At a press conference in Egypt, Kerry said that an Egyptian plan could form the basis of a ceasefire despite Hamas’ refusals to sign over claims they were not initially consulted and their view that their endorsement would be tantamount to “surrender”.
He also announed that the US was to send $47m (£28m) in aid to Gaza “to alleviate the immediate humanitarian crisis”.
America’s senior diplomat has prolonged his stay in Egypt to hold further talks with Egyptian officials and the Arab League.
More than 600 Palestinians have been killed and 3,640 injured in Israel’s air and ground offensive, while 29 Israelis have lost their lives in the fighting, 27 of whom were Israel Defence Forces (IDF) soldiers.
Source: International Business Times
