International praises for Egypt's efforts to mediate ceasefire in Gaza

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Mon, 15 May 2023 - 11:49 GMT

BY

Mon, 15 May 2023 - 11:49 GMT

 

CAIRO – 15 May 2023: Several governments and counties around the world welcomed Egypt’s pivotal role mediating a ceasefire between Palestine and Israel, restoring calm and stability and ending nearly a week of fighting and violence.

The Guardian newspaper of Sunday quoted an Egyptian security official saying that, Egypt, a longtime mediator in Gaza, secured the agreement of both Israel and Palestinian group Islamic Jihad to its latest ceasefire proposal.

A ceasefire has taken effect in and around the Gaza Strip after several days of cross-border exchanges that have killed many people.

The truce was due to take effect at 10pm local time on Saturday, Egyptian and Palestinian sources said. But, in the final 30 minutes before, dozens of rockets were fired from Gaza towards Israel, prompting renewed airstrikes.

Most of the rockets were intercepted by Israeli air defenses.

“Israel’s National Security adviser Tsahi Hanegbi … thanked Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, and expressed the State of Israel’s appreciation for Egypt’s vigorous efforts to bring about a ceasefire,” a statement from the Israeli prime minister’s office said.

A Palestinian source confirmed Islamic Jihad’s agreement.

“We want to thank Egypt for its efforts,” Islamic Jihad political department official Mohammad al-Hindi said. He has been in Cairo since the fighting erupted on Tuesday.

The US deputy secretary of state, Wendy Sherman, in a call to the Israeli strategic affairs minister, Ron Dermer, “stressed the urgency of reaching a ceasefire agreement in order to prevent any further loss of civilian life”, the state department said.

Egypt had kept up its mediation effort despite repeated setbacks.

The European Union (EU) also welcomed an Egypt-brokered ceasefire between Israeli and Palestinian sides.

In a press release published by the European External Action Service on Sunday, the EU commends Egypt for facilitating the agreement, and the United Nations for its positive role in this context.

"The EU deeply deplores the loss of civilian lives over the past days, including children, killed and injured in the Gaza Strip and in Israel," the statement says.

"It is now crucial to consolidate the ceasefire and to reopen the crossings to allow especially humanitarian assistance and fuel, as well as workers, to enter and exit Gaza," the EU added.

Affirming its willingness to work with all of its partners to bring relief, assist in achieving calm for both Israelis and Palestinians and restore a political horizon, the EU also reiterated its call for all parties to work towards de-escalation, in line with undertakings made in Aqaba and Sharm El Sheikh.

Head of the European Union delegation to Egypt, Ambassador Christian Berger, confirmed that Egypt plays an important regional role in many fields, especially the political aspect.

He added - in exclusive statements to the Middle East News Agency this evening at the Cervantes Institute in Alexandria, in the presence of the Spanish Ambassador to Cairo, Alvaro Iran Gutierrez, the Estonia's Ambassador to Cairo, Ingrid Amer, and the Executive Director of the Anna Lindh Foundation - that Egypt's role is very important in the political aspects, praising the Egyptian role in mediating between Gaza and Israel, and a cease-fire agreement. He stressed that Egypt plays an effective role in preserving and building peace.

Germany, as well, welcomed the ceasefire mediated by Egypt in Gaza, praising the Egyptian successful efforts to end the violence, the German Foreign Office said on Sunday.

Germany called for both parties to adhere to the ceasefire, affirming the need for permanent peace between the Palestinian and Israeli sides.

“The goal must remain a lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians, which enables all to live in safety and dignity,” the German Foreign Office stated.

“We also grieve for the civilians who were killed, and our thoughts are with the many wounded,” the foreign office added.

“Effective protection of the civilian population, especially from rocket fire, is of paramount importance,” the foreign office said, affirming also the importance of immediate access to humanitarian aid and essential commodities in Gaza.

The Palestinian and Israeli sides agreed to a ceasefire on Saturday 10pm, after five days of Israeli aggression killed around 33 Palestinians, including children, according to official data.

The Israeli airstrikes against the strip also damaged hundreds of buildings and injured many Palestinian people before the ceasefire was brokered.

Also, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad fired hundreds of rockets against Israel in retaliation.

Many countries and international partners have welcomed the Saturday ceasefire, including the United Nations, the European Union, the United States, Switzerland, Britain and Qatar.

Egypt also brokered a ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian factions in May 2021, ending 11 days of fighting that killed more than 250 Palestinian people.

 

 

 

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