Egypt intensifies talks with UAE, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye to mitigate regional tensions

CAIRO – 14 August 2024: Egypt's Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr Abdelatty held intensified discussions with the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Türkiye on Tuesday to coordinate and bolster efforts aimed at quelling the existing regional tensions.

The consultations were centered on efforts to address the escalating regional tensions, with a focus on preventing the situation from spinning out of control, which exacerbates instability and disorder within the region, the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

The ministers discussed ongoing initiatives to bring an end to the war in Gaza, facilitate a ceasefire, negotiate a prisoner exchange, and ensure the provision of vital humanitarian assistance to address the dire humanitarian crisis in the enclave.

Beyond Gaza, the ministers also delved into the situation in Sudan, deliberating on the progress of both regional and international mediation endeavors geared towards achieving a ceasefire and facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid to Sudan.

Additionally, the discussions extended to developments in the Horn of Africa region.

In a collaborative effort, leaders from Egypt, the United States, and Qatar have extended invitations to both Israel and Qatar for talks scheduled on August 15, to be held in either Cairo or Doha.

While Tel Aviv has consented to resume discussions on a Gaza ceasefire at the behest of the three nations, reports from the New York Times suggest that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has introduced new conditions that could complicate the negotiations, according to US and foreign officials.

Netanyahu's stipulations reportedly include maintaining Israeli oversight of Gaza's southern border with Egypt and imposing further constraints on displaced Palestinians seeking to return to their homes in the enclave.

Meanwhile, Hamas has declined participation in the talks. Ahmed Abdul Hadi, Hamas's representative in Lebanon, conveyed on Tuesday that the movement's leadership perceives Netanyahu's intentions as prolonging the war and expanding it regionally, casting doubts on Israel's commitment to genuine negotiations.

In light of these concerns, Hamas has opted out of Thursday's discussions, citing a lack of good faith negotiations on the part of the Israeli government.

Striving for de-escalation

The leaders of Egypt, Qatar and the US have stepped up their efforts aimed at reaching a ceasefire and a prisoner swap deal, in a bid to stop the war, which has extended for more than 10 months.

The Israeli war has resulted in a devastating toll, with nearly 40,000 fatalities, over 92,000 injuries, the displacement of most of Gaza's 2.2 million inhabitants, and the enclave facing the looming threat of famine.

The war was triggered by a Hamas attack on Israeli communities near Gaza on October 7, during which Palestinian fighters captured around 250 Israelis and foreign nationals.

In November, a prisoner exchange brokered by Egypt, Qatar, and the US resulted in the release of about 100 Israeli captives in return for about 240 Palestinian prisoners.

Israel managed to rescue seven captives in Gaza over the past months. However, unrelenting Israeli strikes have led to the deaths of some of the roughly 100 captives still held in Gaza.

The statement also arrives against the backdrop of an increasingly turbulent regional climate.

Israel and the US are on high alert for imminent retaliatory actions from Iran against Israeli targets following the recent assassinations of senior Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut and Hamas political bureau leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran by Israeli forces.

Heightened tensions have been exacerbated by warnings from Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen, both supported by Iran and longstanding adversaries of Israel, threatening severe repercussions in response to the recent killings.