Egypt hopes for success of Gaza truce efforts to avert regional escalation: Cairo to Tehran

CAIRO – 24 August 2024: Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr Abdelatty expressed Egypt's aspiration for the ongoing mediation efforts regarding Gaza war to successfully result in a ceasefire and a prisoner-captive swap during a phone call with the new Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abbas Araghchi, on Saturday.

Abdelatty conveyed hopes that the current mediation endeavors, led by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, culminate successfully to alleviate the existing regional tensions and prevent the region from descending into a cycle of violence and escalation.

Abdelatty congratulated his Iranian counterpart on assuming his new position following parliamentary approval of the new Iranian cabinet, extending his best wishes for success.

The discussion between the two ministers focused on the escalating regional situation amidst the ongoing war in Gaza and the recurrent Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian standards.

Over the previous months, Egypt, Qatar, and the US have been spearheading mediation efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza and facilitate the release of numerous Israeli captives held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli detention.

Currently, Cairo is hosting fresh talks with negotiators from the United States and Israel.

Additionally, a Hamas delegation led by senior figure Khalil Al-Hayya is expected to arrive in the Egyptian capital to receive updates from mediators on the progress of the negotiations, as reported by Reuters.

Director of the CIA William Burns and Brett McGurk, US coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa, also traveled to Cairo on Friday to participate in the discussions.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and US President Joe Biden have been closely monitoring the developments in the ongoing talks in Cairo, reaffirming their commitment to removing any obstacles to the negotiations and demonstrating necessary flexibility.

In a phone call on Friday, both leaders emphasized their eagerness to reach a ceasefire, highlighting the need to halt the severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza, end the escalation, and prevent conflict spillover.

In Doha last week, US mediators presented an Egyptian-Qatari supported proposal aimed at bridging the remaining gaps between Israel and Hamas, with ongoing efforts to refine implementation details, according to a joint statement by the three countries.

However, Israel has raised its demands for a ceasefire, potentially jeopardizing agreements by insisting on maintaining a military presence in the Philadelphi corridor along the Egypt-Gaza border and the Netzarim corridor dividing northern Gaza from the south.

Egypt has consistently stressed the need for a complete Israeli withdrawal from the Rafah crossing and the Philadelphi corridor.

The ongoing pursuit of a ceasefire in Gaza occurs amidst a concerning regional situation and the looming threat of conflict spillover.

Iran, Hezbollah in Lebanon, Houthis in Yemen, and Hamas in Gaza have all vowed retaliation against Israel in response to the killings of Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut and Hamas political bureau leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran by Israeli forces in July.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran has promised severe repercussions against Israel at an opportune moment, hinting at potential broader targets beyond military installations.

These tensions persist as Gaza also faces an imminent threat of famine amid the ongoing war since October 7.

According to a report by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the number of children diagnosed with acute malnutrition in northern Gaza in July was four times higher than in May, while in the south it more than doubled.

Released on Friday, the report also highlighted that the amount of humanitarian food aid entering southern Gaza in July was among the lowest since October 2023.

As per the Gaza health ministry's statement on Saturday, Israeli strikes over more than 10 months have killed 40,334 individuals and injured 93,356. Furthermore, the war has led to the displacement of the majority of Gaza's 2.2 million residents.