Egypt intensifies efforts to de-escalate violence between Palestinians, Israelis

CAIRO – 8 October 2023: Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry phoned a number of world leaders to contain the current escalation between the Palestinians and the Israelis.

The Egyptian minister phoned German counterpart Annalena Baerbock to discuss the crisis, especially in light of the two countries’ membership in the Munich Formula on supporting peace efforts, said Egyptian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Ahmed Abu Zeid in a statement on Saturday.

Bothe ministers urged the parties to exercise restraint to protect civilians from being exposed to further risks, Abu Zeid added.

On the other hand, Shoukry received a call from Hakan Fidan, the minister of foreign affairs of Turkey, to discuss the coordination of regional efforts to hinder the escalation and avoid entering into a vicious circle of violence that increases the state of instability in the region.

Also, Shoukry received a phone call from his Spanish counterpart José Manuel Albares, the current president of the Council of the European Union, to discuss ways to stop the escalation, Abu Zeid said in another statement on Saturday evening.

The two ministers focused on the measures that must be taken internationally and regionally to put an end to the existing violence.

“In this regard, the minister of foreign affairs stressed the need to stop military operations in the Gaza Strip and its surroundings immediately, and between the Palestinian and Israeli sides on various fronts, and to provide an opportunity for diplomatic efforts to contain the situation and restore calm,” said Abu Zeid, adding that Shourky called on influential international parties, including the European Union, to shoulder their responsibilities in this regard.

Additionally, Shoukry spoke with Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov. They stressed the need to immediately stop the ongoing escalation against the Gaza Strip and the violent confrontations between the Palestinian and Israeli sides, especially in light of the Security Council session scheduled to be held on Sunday.

Speaking to French counterpart Catherine Colonna, Shoukry highlighted the importance of taking international action to stop the escalation and contain the current crisis as Egypt and France are members of the Munich Formula group concerned with advancing peace efforts.

Minister Shoukry also emphasized to his French counterpart the extreme seriousness of the current crisis, and its humanitarian and security repercussions that could get out of control.

Abu Zeid added that the foreign ministers of Egypt and France agreed to continue their bilateral consultation and coordination, and to work to contain the crisis as quickly as possible.

The Egyptian minister, on Saturday, received a phone call from Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, the UAE minister of foreign affairs to put an end to the ongoing violence. The two sides agreed on the necessity of preventing the security situation from getting out of control and exposing the lives of civilians to further risks.

Shoukry also made immediate contacts with Palestinian, Jordanian, and Israeli counterparts when the military escalation took place between the Palestinians and Israelis on Saturday, incurring scores of deaths and injuries in both sides. Until present, a ceasefire has not been reached.

The number of Palestinians killed by Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip has risen to 256 people, including 20 children, and 1,788 citizens with various injuries, announced the Palestinian Embassy in Cairo. Meanwhile, the ongoing escalation led to the death of 600 Israelis and the injury of 2,000 others.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi is following up on the escalation between the Palestinians and Israelis in the 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.

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

“We have repeatedly warned of the consequences of a deadlock in the political horizon and not granting the Palestinian people their legitimate rights. 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,” the Palestinian Foreign Ministry's statement read

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.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel “is at war” after Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on the country on Saturday. Netanyahu vowed to exact an “unprecedented price” from the Palestinian group, according to The Times of Israel.

“Citizens of Israel, we are at war, not an operation, not a round [of fighting,] at war,” Netanyahu said in his filmed statement in Hebrew.

The violence extended to southern Lebanon after Israeli forces shelled “the outskirts of the towns of Shebaa, Halta, Kfarchouba, and Al-Hibbariyah with artillery and tanks,” LBC group reported on Sunday.