Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr Abdelatty reiterated to his Australian counterpart on Wednesday Egypt’s steadfast rejection of Israel’s escalation, including political assassinations and breaches of sovereignty, which do not benefit any side but only exacerbate the conflict to a point where containing the crisis becomes difficult.
During a phone call with his Australian counterpart Penny Wong, FM Abdelatty emphasised Egypt’s continuous communications with various parties to prevent the expansion of the conflict and achieve calm and stability in the region.
According to the Egyptian foreign ministry’s statement, Abdelatty further outlined Cairo’s intensive diplomatic efforts, in partnership with the US and Qatar, to swiftly end the conflict and ease the suffering of the Palestinian people.
Egypt, along with the US and Qatar, has mediated indirect talks between Israel and Hamas to reach a ceasefire deal in the 10-month-old Israeli war in Gaza.
In addition, the Egyptian FM stressed that the ongoing crisis in Gaza plays a vital role in fueling and escalating tensions and confrontations in the region.
Meanwhile, FM Wong commended Egypt’s pivotal role since the outbreak of the Gaza crisis, acknowledging Egypt’s strenuous efforts to achieve a ceasefire and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to the strip.
On Tuesday, during a meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi emphasised the need for a ceasefire in Gaza as a precursor to international recognition of an independent Palestinian state and the enforcement of the two-state solution.
Amidst the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Egypt has provided aid and delivered essential medical supplies and food. Egypt also opened its borders to the wounded from the Gaza Strip.
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.
source: Ahram Online
