Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry issued a warning on Sunday about the escalating conflict in the Middle East in the wake of the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip.
This statement came during a joint press conference held in Cairo between Minister Shoukry and his French counterpart, Stéphane Séjourné, according to the Egyptian news portal “Al-Ahram.”
Minister Shoukry emphasized the need to establish a defined timeline for the creation of an independent Palestinian state and underscored the importance of addressing the Palestinian issue through a comprehensive political framework.
He further stated that he and Séjourné strongly reject the displacement of Palestinians and ongoing Israeli practices against Palestinian civilians.
The Egyptian foreign minister also highlighted the agreement with his French counterpart on the necessity of reaching a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and working toward a comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue, ultimately leading to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Egypt has previously affirmed its firm rejection of attempts to displace the Palestinian people and has emphasized its commitment to coordinate with all regional and international parties to achieve a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli military has been conducting operations in the Gaza Strip since October 7th, following the initiation of the “Al-Aqsa Tempest” operation by the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip.
During this operation, thousands of rockets were launched from Gaza into Israel, and Israeli forces entered settlements adjacent to the Strip, resulting in the deaths of around 1,200 Israelis in addition to the capture of nearly 250 others.
The fighting was interrupted by a seven-day ceasefire brokered by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, during which prisoners, including women and children, were exchanged, and agreed-upon quantities of aid were delivered to the Gaza Strip.
However, military operations resumed on December 1st of this year.