Egypt's FM: We have an interest in preserving armistice and not violating it

CAIRO - 22 May 2020: Speaking over the phone to MBC satellite TV channel on Friday, Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry affirmed that the Palestinian cause has always been among the priorities of the Egyptian leadership, government and people, noting that President Abdel Fattah El Sisi makes it a point to closely follow up all Palestinian developments and Egyptians have always stood by their Palestinian brethren and made great sacrifices to support their cause.

He said that the Egyptian leadership has had firsthand knowledge of all efforts and contacts to de-escalate tension between the Palestinians and Israelis until yesterday’s ceasefire was achieved.

He noted that since day one of the flare-up of tension in Jerusalem and the ensuing military escalations, the Egyptian focus has been on serving the interest of the Palestinian people and trying to keep them out of harm’s way.

Also, Egypt has been concerned with preserving the Arab identity of Jerusalem and preventing any attacks on Al Aqsa Mosque and all other holy sites in the occupied Palestinian lands, whether Islamic or Christian, he added.

Egypt went to great lengths to stand by the brotherly Palestinian people, he said citing the efforts exerted by the Egyptian political, security, intelligence and health authorities.

He pointed out that Cairo will do its best, through its security delegations to the Palestinians and Israeli to consolidate the attained ceasefire and ensure that none of the two sides would breach it in the future.

He said that the world community and international partners, most particularly the US, should return to shouldering their responsibility toward reviving direct Palestinian-Israeli peace talks to reach a lasting just solution to the decades-long conflict and restore the legitimate rights of the Palestinians topped by their rights to independence and statehood.

Cairo succeeded, Thursday to secure ceasefire in Gaza. The mutually-agreed suspension of fire come into force at the early hours of May 21.

Two Egyptian security delegations will be dispatched to Tel Aviv and Palestinian territories to follow up the with the ceasefire implementation and maintain the stability of the situation inside the strip.

Regional and international parties welcomed the ceasefire that was reached as a result of the Egyption efforts exerted during the past period.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry on Wednesday said in statements to CNN that Egypt is working to reach a ceasefire in the Palestinian territories to avert more escalation of conflict there.

The Egyptian foreign minister added that Egypt is contacting all parties concerned to discuss the current situation in the territories.

Shoukry pointed out that he contacted his Israeli and US counterparts Gabi Ashkenazi and Antony Blinken along with European foreign ministers over the situation in the Palestinian territories.

Egypt is consulting closely with the Israeli side, Palestinian Authority and Hamas regarding the crisis, he said.

Egypt has taken political and diplomatic steps to encourage ceasefire, condemn the Israeli aggression, and support the Palestinian’s legitimate rights.

Since May 7, Israeli forces in the West Bank and Jerusalem have been engaged in clashes with civilians who were protesting forced displacement, particularly from Sheikh Jarrah eastern Jerusalem, and assaults on worshippers in Al Aqsa Mosque. And, since May 10, Israel has been shelling and carrying out airstrikes against Gaza Strip. The aggression has thus far incurred 236 deaths and 6,278 injuries, as reported by the Palestinian News and Information Agency (WAFA).

The strikes also caused the destruction of more than 200 residential units in Gaza Strip and 31 educational establishments, including schools, colleges, and vocational training centers. According to the United Nations, 40,000 Palestinians got displaced – mainly from the North to the South – while 2,500 lost their homes.

Additional reporting by MENA