Egypt boosts diplomacy to stop 'escalation' in Gaza, Israel
Egypt intensified its push Monday for diplomatic efforts to de-escalate spiralling violence in Gaza and Israel, his office said, after three days of fighting killed more than 1,200 people.
President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, whose country has historically been a key mediator between Israel and the Palestinians, spoke with UAE Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, agreeing to "intensify discussions and diplomatic efforts to stop military escalation", Sisi's spokesman said.
Abu Dhabi normalized relations with Israel in 2020 under the U.S.-backed Abraham Accords, over four decades after Cairo became the first Arab country to sign a peace treaty with Israel in 1979.
On Sunday, Sisi spoke with Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, warning of the dangerous "absence of political prospects".
Abbas' government administers the occupied West Bank, while Hamas governs the Gaza Strip.
Sisi also spoke on Sunday with Jordan's King Abdullah II, whose country acts as custodian of Muslim and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem and recognised Israel in 1994.
Since Saturday, Sisi has also spoken with French President Emmanuel Macron, European Council President Charles Michel, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Egypt's diplomatic flurry comes after Hamas militants launched Saturday a multi-pronged attack into Israel, which responded with air strikes on the blockaded Gaza Strip.
More than 700 Israelis were killed, in addition to 560 Palestinians in Gaza, according to officials on both sides.
No negotiations seem to be in sight, with Israel announcing "a complete siege" on the Gaza Strip amid what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said would be a "long and difficult war".
European Union foreign ministers will hold urgent talks Tuesday on the situation in Israel and Gaza, while in Cairo, Palestine's permanent representative has made a similar request of the Arab League.
09 October 2023, 17:24
00
Netanyahu will do what Assad and Putin did .. they created and he will create a humanitarian crisis causing a mass migration of Gazans to the south .. Once there, pressure will be applied so Egypt has to open its boarder 'for humanitarian reasons" .. regardless, the objective will be to de-populate Gaza, just like what was done in Syria, so to drive the unwanted portion of the population into Lebanon .. No one has to be killed; they just need to be made to leave.
09 October 2023, 17:35
10
Israel is in the position of Ukraine, not Russia. It was attacked first.
09 October 2023, 17:53
01
You’re dead wrong, Israel is in the position of the USA, they created Al Qæda and served their purpose, then they eliminated them.
Israel created and enabled Hamas to weaken Arafat, they served their purpose now they’re eliminating them. (US Senator R. Paul)
09 October 2023, 18:26
00
I made a statement about military strategy/tactics. I made no claim of morality, whether relative or absolute .. such things are between each soul and its maker. here on Middle Earth, such "discussions" are simply shrill and wasteful.
10 October 2023, 18:11
00
do not forget to mention the Israel killing of innocent civilians since 1948, and continues to do so. what about your people burning homes and cars in Hawara with no arrest? what about the killing of Palestinian children prior to recent events? israel is russia, and white south africa government combined. Apartheid, fascist and terror
10 October 2023, 18:11
00
do not forget to mention the Israel killing of innocent civilians since 1948, and continues to do so. what about your people burning homes and cars in Hawara with no arrest? what about the killing of Palestinian children prior to recent events? israel is russia, and white south africa government combined. Apartheid, fascist and terror
