Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr Abdelatty and UN Secretary-General António Guterres stressed in a phone call on Wednesday the urgent need to secure an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, ensure delivery of humanitarian aid, and facilitate the exchange of prisoners and detainees.
FM Abdelatty and Guterres emphasized that ending the war in Gaza would help de-escalate tensions throughout the entire region, according to a statement from the Egyptian foreign ministry.
Abdelatty briefed Guterres on Cairo’s efforts to ease the escalating situation and prevent the conflict from causing further regional instability.
Egypt’s top diplomat also highlighted the risks associated with provocative Israeli actions, including political assassinations and breaches of state sovereignty, which intensify regional tensions.
Since 7 October, Israel has killed 40,139, injured 92,743 Palestinians, mostly children and women, damaged most of Gaza’s infrastructure, and displaced the majority of the population.
Furthermore, the Israeli assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and the killing of Hezbollah military commander Fouad Shukur in Beirut led Iran to vow retaliation against Israel.
In response, the US pledged to support Israel, further escalating tensions and heightening fears of a broader regional conflict.
The secretary-general expressed gratitude for President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, acknowledging his pivotal role in promoting stability, peace, and conflict resolution in the region.
He praised Egypt’s persistent efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza, emphasizing the UN’s full backing for these initiatives that aim to alleviate the severe humanitarian crisis faced by the Palestinian people.
On Tuesday, El-Sisi emphasized that a ceasefire in Gaza should lead to international recognition of an independent Palestinian state and the implementation of the two-state solution.
El-Sisi further highlighted that the two-state solution is crucial for regional stability in his meeting with the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
Sudan crisis
The call tackled the Sudanese crisis, where Abdelatty highlighted Egypt’s consistent stance on the need for a ceasefire, ensuring humanitarian aid access, and respecting Sudan’s sovereignty.
He emphasized the importance of preserving Sudan’s institutions and supporting its people during this crisis.
Both sides welcomed the Sudan Transitional Sovereignty Council’s decision to re-open the “Adre” border crossing, which would improve the delivery of humanitarian aid to those affected.
They stressed the need to take advantage of this development to ensure timely and adequate aid distribution across Sudan.
Since April 2023, Sudan has been embroiled in a civil war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), resulting in more than 13,000 deaths and displacing more than 10 million people.
Egypt has since received thousands of Sudanese refugees fleeing the war and hosted several summits to address the Sudanese crisis.
Source: Ahram Online