Egypt, Jordan’s FMs hold Israel accountable for escalation in region

CAIRO – 1 August 2024: Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Immigration, Badr Abdel-Aty and Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Ayman Safadi held Israel accountable for the dangerous escalation in the region.

They added this escalation is as a result of Israel’s aggression in the Gaza Strip, violations of international law, illegal practices in the West Bank, and its political assassinations.

The ministers called on the UN Security Council to adopt a binding resolution to halt Israel's aggression against Gaza and its ongoing breaches of international law.

In their phone call, the ministers emphasized the urgent need to de-escalate the situation to prevent the region from descending into a broader conflict that could destabilize the Middle East, especially in light of recent Israeli actions. They strongly condemned the political assassinations occurring as part of this escalation.

The ministers asserted that halting the aggression against Gaza and addressing the resulting humanitarian crisis are crucial first steps toward calming the situation. They reaffirmed their condemnation of serious Israeli violations of international and humanitarian law and of breaches of state sovereignty.

The ministers reiterated the necessity of ending the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories to address the root causes of the conflict. They called for the restoration of the Palestinian people's legitimate rights and the establishment of an independent, sovereign Palestinian state based on the June 4, 1967, borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with the two-state solution. They also emphasized the importance of continued consultation and coordination between their countries moving forward.

Israel assassinated head of the Hamas Political Bureau Ismail Haniyeh, with his body guard, in his residency in the Iranian capital Tehran on July 31, after attending the inauguration ceremony of the Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. A day earlier, Israel assassinated Senior Commander Sayyed Fouad Ali Shokr (Sayyed Mohsen), the second man in the Lebanese Hezbollah by targeting him on Tuesday, August 30, 2024. Meanwhile, the Global Coalition Against Daesh- led by Israeli ally, the US, launched airstrike against personnel from the Iraq Popular Mobilization Forces, which affiliates to the Iraqi army. Iran, Hezbollah and Iraqi Army vowed to revenge for those who killed by Israel.

Additionally, Arab, Muslim and other countries voiced their concern about these political assassinations as these could lead to a regional all-out war.