Egypt reaffirms rejection of escalation in Gaza, decries ‘Greater Israel' statements
He stressed that such actions only serve to inflame tensions, escalate conflict, and undermine regional stability.
The remarks came during a phone call on Friday between Abdelatty and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas.
The phone call was held in line with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's directives to intensify international efforts toward securing a ceasefire in Gaza and facilitating urgent humanitarian assistance.
They engaged in a comprehensive discussion on the latest political, security, and humanitarian developments in the Gaza Strip.
Abdelatty stressed the urgent need to establish a credible political horizon that paves the way for a just and sustainable resolution to the Palestinian issue, one that ensures the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent state.
Abdelatty reaffirmed Egypt's ongoing efforts to mediate a ceasefire and underscored the need for stronger international engagement, particularly from the European Union (EU), to help end hostilities and guarantee the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid.
He placed full responsibility on Israel, as the occupying power, for keeping Gaza's five border crossings closed, calling for their immediate reopening and the removal of all obstacles hindering the flow of urgent humanitarian and medical assistance, measures he described as contributing to a deliberate policy of starvation.
During the phone call, Abdelatty briefed the EU official on Egypt's intensive efforts, in coordination with Qatar and the United States, to reach a comprehensive agreement ensuring a ceasefire, unimpeded humanitarian access, and a hostage-prisoner swap, involving the release of hostages and a number of Palestinian detainees.
The call also addressed Egypt's preparations to host an international conference in Cairo on early recovery and reconstruction in Gaza, set to take place immediately after a ceasefire is achieved.
The conference is being organized in coordination with regional and international partners, including the EU.
For her part, the EU high representative praised Egypt's sustained efforts to de-escalate the situation and secure a ceasefire, as well as its key role in alleviating the unbearable suffering of the Palestinian people by facilitating the delivery of aid.
She expressed the EU's readiness to participate in the Gaza reconstruction conference and work closely with Egypt to ensure unhindered humanitarian access and the success of efforts exerted to achieve a ceasefire. (MENA)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Middle East
19 minutes ago
- Middle East
OPEN// Sisi stresses need for immediate Gaza reconstruction after ceasefire
CAIRO, Aug 18 (MENA) – President Abdel Fattah El Sisi on Monday called for the immediate start of Gaza's reconstruction once a ceasefire is in place, and for preparations to host an international donor conference in Cairo, in coordination with the Palestinian Authority and the United Nations. The remarks came during talks in Cairo with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, attended by top intelligence and security officials from both sides. According to presidential spokesman Mohamed El-Shennawy, the two sides stressed their countries' joint efforts—alongside the U.S.—to secure a ceasefire in Gaza, ensure unhindered humanitarian aid flow, and facilitate the release of hostages and detainees. They reiterated rejection of any reoccupation of Gaza or forced displacement of Palestinians. Both sides reaffirmed support for a two-state solution based on international resolutions, with Al Quds (East Jerusalem) as the capital of a future Palestinian state. The spokesperson said both sides agreed on the need to intensify joint efforts to find political and peaceful solutions to regional crises, stressing respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of affected states, and the importance of continued Egypt-Qatar coordination to advance mutual interests and regional stability. (MENA) R E E/
Middle East
19 minutes ago
- Middle East
OPEN//FM forwards 'message of love, solidarity, support for brothers in Gaza Strip'
CAIRO, Aug 18 (MENA) - Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration, and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdelatty wrote on one of the boxes donated to the Palestinian people "a message of love, solidarity, and support for our brothers in steadfast Gaza Strip, from beloved Egypt - its leadership, government, and people" during his visit on Monday to the main logistics hub of the Egyptian Red Crescent. Abdelatty and Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa inspected the central hub of the ERC during their visit to Arish city Monday. The visit is aiming to review the latest developments of Egypt's humanitarian response to the repercussions of the war on the Gaza Strip. Minister of Social Solidarity Maya Morsy was present. (MENA) Y R E/R E E
Egypt Independent
34 minutes ago
- Egypt Independent
Egypt warns Israel that mass displacement of Gazans is a ‘red line'
Rafah, Egypt — The displacement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip is a 'red line' and Cairo will not allow any party to risk Egypt's national security or sovereignty, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said on Monday. In an exclusive interview with CNN in the northern Egyptian town of Al-Arish, close to the Gaza border, Abdelatty said that Egypt is working through 'different channels, with one objective, to alleviate the burden and suffering of Palestinians,' adding that mass Palestinian emigration from Gaza would not be tolerated by his country. 'We will not accept it, we will not participate in it, and we will not allow it to happen,' Abdelatty told CNN, adding that displacement is guaranteed to be a 'one way ticket' for Palestinians out of Gaza, which would lead to the 'liquidation' of their cause altogether. The Israeli government has never given a detailed vision of what will happen to Gaza after the war but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly advocated for moving Palestinians from Gaza to other countries, particularly after US President Donald Trump floated the idea early this year. But even after Trump appeared to cool on the proposal, Israeli officials have embraced it. Egypt is Gaza's only access to the outside world as Israel has blockaded the territory from the land, sea and air. Cairo has come under intense public pressure to alleviate the suffering of Palestinians and has repeatedly blamed Israel for blocking aid as thousands of trucks remain stranded at its border. Egypt's Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty gives a press conference in the New Administrative Capital, east of Cairo, Egypt on October 8, 2024. Khaled Desouki/AFP via Getty Images Asked whether the war places the Egypt-Israel peace treaty at risk, Abdelatty said Cairo is 'respecting and honoring (its) commitments according to the peace treaty,' but added that 'any kind of displacement would be a big risk and we will not allow any single party to risk our national security and our sovereignty… in our border.' The minister's warnings are some of the harshest since Israel said last week that it is in talks with several countries about taking in Palestinians displaced by the war. 'If the Israelis manage to displace them, I can assure you that will be the end of the Palestinian cause,' the foreign minister said. Egypt was the first Arab nation to recognize Israel in 1979. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said last week that talks are underway with several countries about taking in displaced Palestinians. The countries involved are South Sudan, Somaliland, Ethiopia, Libya, and Indonesia, a senior Israeli official told CNN. In exchange for taking in some of Gaza's population of more than two million people, the official said the countries are looking for 'significant financial and international compensation.' It's unclear how advanced any of these discussions are and whether they are likely to come to fruition. South Sudan rejected earlier reports that it was in discussions about the resettlement of Palestinians, saying they were 'baseless.' Indonesia said it was ready to take in 2,000 Palestinians from Gaza for treatment but that they would return to Gaza once they recovered. Earlier this year, Somaliland also said there were no such talks. No partner for peace Abdelatty said that while Egypt maintains contact with Israel on the security and intelligence levels, it hasn't seen a desire from the political establishment to conclude the war. 'Unfortunately, we don't have a partner in Israel right now for peace and the two-state solution,' he said. 'We have ministers in the Israeli cabinet right now who do not believe in the two-state solution.' Israel's far-right ministers, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, have called for an expansion of the war in Gaza and the emigration of Palestinians from the enclave, which critics have said amounts to ethnic cleansing. Abdelatty said negotiations for a ceasefire and hostage deal are, however, ongoing, adding that 'we reached a sort of understanding on most of the building issues' with regards to the latest proposal submitted by US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff. Egyptian Red Crecent members prepare humanitarian aid at their warehouse in the logistical center supporting Gaza, at Sheikh Zuweid, Egypt, on Monday. Mayar Mokhtar/AP Last month, the US and Israel recalled their negotiating teams from Qatar, where talks had been taking place, with Witkoff saying the latest response from Hamas 'clearly shows a lack of desire to reach a ceasefire.' The Egyptian foreign minister said Cairo is in favor of a comprehensive deal that ends the war, brings back hostages, releases Palestinian prisoners and allows aid to flow in. Israel's demand to immediately disarm Hamas is, he said, an 'impossible' condition at this stage of the talks. 'Israel is insisting on disarming Hamas now. Who will do it? How can we do it on the ground?' he said, adding that Israel has tried to eliminate the group through a 22-month bombardment campaign and still failed. 'We need to push now (for a deal),' Abdelatty said. There is currently a delegation from Hamas in Cairo, he said, and talks are ongoing with the Qataris, the Americans and the Israelis. 'We can have a deal if we have political will.' 'Once you're here… you cannot leave' On Monday, CNN saw dozens of aid trucks lining the roads to the Rafah crossing with Gaza, where many convoys have remained idle for weeks or even months, often causing essential food aid to spoil. Abdelatty said that there are 5,000 trucks on the Egyptian side of the crossing waiting to enter the blockaded strip, but that 'the Israelis are not allowing them to enter.' Three truck drivers told CNN they've been waiting for more than a week for a greenlight to enter. Medhat Mohamed, a father of three, had his truck turned back Wednesday after a rejection by the Israeli military, he said, adding that he has spent the past three weeks parked along the Egyptian side of the border. Palestinians, displaced by the Israeli offensive, shelter in a tent camp as the Israeli military prepares to relocate residents to southern Gaza, in Gaza City on Sunday. Dawoud Abu Alkas/Reuters 'Once you're here with your truck you cannot leave,' Mohamed told CNN. 'Either your aid gets approved and you leave or you stay next to your truck – that might take weeks, or even months' He said it was the little he could do to help Gaza's starving population. 'This is not about money – we can get a lot of money from work in Cairo. We're here because we want to help in any way we can the people in Gaza.' Another driver, Mohamed Fawzy, told CNN he was carrying ICU beds that were rejected four times by Israeli authorities. Amal Imam, the executive director of the Egyptian Red Crescent, told CNN the beds, along with the rest of aid rejected, had received pre-approval by Israeli authorities but had been rejected for containing metals and plastic.
