Egyptian FM Shoukry pursues Gaza cease-fire efforts

Egypt, with support from its allies in the United States and Qatar, is actively working toward achieving a cease-fire amid the ongoing Israeli military campaign targeting the Gaza Strip, stated Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry on Friday.

During bilateral discussions with South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor in Pretoria, Shoukry emphasized the importance of both Hamas and Israel demonstrating political will and assuming responsibility to secure a cease-fire and safeguard civilians.

Negotiations involving Egypt, Qatar, and the U.S. have been ongoing to broker a cease-fire and bring an end to the conflict that began in October.

'We need to proritize the safety of Palestinians'

Shoukry underscored the urgent need to prioritize the lives and safety of Palestinian civilians, highlighting the significant casualties, including over 33,000 deaths, with 20,000 among them being women and children. He stressed the imperative to halt the violence, secure the release of hostages and detainees, and provide humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza.

Additionally, Shoukry condemned the displacement of civilians as a war crime and emphasized the importance of restoring peace and security, along with establishing a political framework that respects the legitimate rights of Palestinians, including the creation of a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

On Israel-Iran tension

Regarding the escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, he emphasized, "The countries in the region deserve peace, security, stability, and should coexist in harmony and cooperation."

Egypt had previously cautioned that such escalations could precipitate a broader regional conflict detrimental to the security of all nations involved.

Source: AA