Egypt condemns deadly Israeli attacks on Gaza’s Nuseirat camp, calls for halting war

CAIRO – 8 June 2024: Egypt strongly condemned the Israeli deadly attacks on the Nuseirat camp in central Gaza on Saturday, calling for global intervention to halt the war in the strip.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said these Israeli attacks represent a flagrant violation of international law, international humanitarian law, and all human values and rights.

“Egypt holds Israel legally and morally responsible for this blatant aggression, demanding its compliance with its obligations as an occupying power,” the statement read.

Egypt also called on Israel to stop the indiscriminate targeting of Palestinian civilians in Gaza, including those in displacement areas, as well as the brutal destruction of all infrastructure services in the strip.

Egypt called upon influential international actors and the UN Security Council to urgently intervene to halt the Israeli war against the Gaza Strip and to take responsible action to end this humanitarian crisis that has claimed the lives of over 36,000 people.

Egypt emphasized the necessity of reaching a comprehensive ceasefire throughout the Gaza Strip and ensuring the full and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian and relief aid through all land crossings to the strip.

Nuseirat operation

Heavy Israeli shelling and artillery fire today resulted in the deaths of 210 people and left over 400 others injured, according to the Gaza government media office.

During the operation, Israeli forces rescued four captives from Gaza, who were taken captive by Hamas during the Nova music festival on October 7.

Since the outbreak of the Gaza war on October 7, Israeli forces have managed to rescue only seven captives, including those saved today, out of around 250 individuals taken by Hamas on that day.

In November, a prisoner swap deal facilitated by Egypt, Qatar, and the US led to the release of around 100 Israeli captives in exchange for about 240 Palestinian prisoners.

However, Israeli attacks in recent months have resulted in the deaths of many of the around 100 captives still held in Gaza.

Last week, the Israeli army announced the deaths of four captives during an operation in Khan Younis in southern Gaza, while their bodies remain in the custody of Islamist fighters in the strip.

Israel has consistently rejected proposals from the mediators; Egypt, Qatar, and the US for a ceasefire and captive exchange deal with Hamas.

Tel Aviv has insisted that the war in Gaza will not cease until its objectives are achieved, which include the safe return of captives, the destruction of Hamas' capabilities, and ensuring that Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel.

Israel seeks a temporary ceasefire agreement, while Hamas demands a permanent ceasefire as a non-negotiable condition for accepting a captive exchange.

Over the past eight months, the war in Gaza has killed over 36,000 Palestinians, with more than 83,000 others injured. The majority of the population has been displaced, and the strip is on the verge of famine.