CAIRO – 11 August 2022: The United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin thanked Egypt on Thursday for its role in reaching a ceasefire in Gaza and Israel during a phone call with Egyptian defense Minister General Mohamed Zaki.
Both officials discussed the strong defense relationship between Egypt and the US according to a statement issued by the department of Defense.
“Secretary Austin thanked Minister Zaki for Egypt’s leadership role in the region and for Egypt’s vital assistance in securing the ceasefire in Israel and Gaza on August 7, 2022.” The statement read.
The two leaders also discussed other shared security objectives and regional challenges across the Middle East and North Africa. Secretary Austin also spoke about U.S. concerns including Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.
Secretary Austin and Minister Zaki reaffirmed their commitment to U.S.-Egypt military-to-military cooperation as a cornerstone of the strategic partnership.
I was pleased to speak with Egypt 🇪🇬 DefMin General Zaki today. I thanked him for Egypt’s role in reaching a ceasefire in Gaza and Israel, and we discussed regional challenges and opportunities. US-Egypt defense cooperation remains a key cornerstone of the strategic partnership. pic.twitter.com/L9HX3tjarf
— Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III (@SecDef) August 11, 2022
United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken welcomed on Monday the ceasefire to restore calm in Gaza and Israel.
“The U.S. welcomes the ceasefire to restore calm in Gaza and Israel. We are grateful to those who mediated this agreement and express our condolences to the families of civilians who lost their lives. We will continue to promote calm and remain committed to Israel’s security.”
In a brief statement, Sunday night Egypt said that in light of its keenness to end the escalation in the Gaza Strip between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad Movement, Cairo has called for a comprehensive and mutual ceasefire between the two rivals, starting on 23:30 (Palestinian Time)
“Egypt is exerting its efforts to release Palestinian prisoner Khalil Al-Awawda, who was on a hunger strike inside an Israeli prison, and transfer him to receive treatment”, a security official told Egypt Today.
Egypt is also working to release the prisoner Bassam Al-Saadi, a member of the Islamic Jihad Movement, as soon as possible, the source added.
Palestinian Islamic Jihad Movement confirmed that Egypt-brokered ceasefire with Israel has been reached, according to Sky News.
Israel has stricken Gaza Strip for three days, targeting the members of the Palestinian Jihadi Movement.
The attacks resulted in killing 43 people, including 15 children and 4 women, and injuring 311 others including children, women and elderly people, the Palestinian Health Ministry announced on Sunday.
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