Egypt’s Sisi directs intensifying contacts with Palestinians, Israelis to deescalate the situation

CAIRO – 7 October 2023: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi is following up on the escalation between the Palestinians and Israelis in Gaza Strip, said the Egyptian Presidency in a statement on Saturday.

The president is following up on the situation at the Strategic Crisis Management Center, and he directed to intensify contacts with the two sides to de-escalate the situation, the statement added.

Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said Egypt is conducting intensive contacts at all levels with a focus on international influential parties to contain the current crisis between the Palestinian and Israeli sides.

In a phone call today with Josep Borrell, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Shoukry said Egypt’s contacts with international parties aim to spare the region further tensions and instability.

Egypt also seeks through the contacts to avoid the situation from coming out of control, Shoukry stressed.

The situation escalated between the two sides when a group of Palestinian militants stormed Israeli settlements and captured a number of Israeli soldiers and settlers.

The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates said in a statement “Ending the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories is the only guarantee for peace, security and stability in the region,” WAFA reported.

“We have repeatedly warned of the consequences of a deadlock in the political horizon and not granting the Palestinian people their legitimate right to self-determination and their state. We have also warned of the consequences of the daily provocations and attacks, the continued terrorism of settlers and occupation forces, and the raids on Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Christian and Islamic holy sites,” said the Foreign Ministry in a statement.

Also, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas chaired an emergency meeting, giving orders to provide protection for the Palestinian people.

“The Palestinian people have the right to defend themselves against the terrorism of settlers and the occupation forces,” said Abbas.

In response, Israeli forces launched airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, killing 161 people and injuring more than 1,000 others, said the Palestinian embassy in Cairo in a news brief.