Egypt president, Qatar prime minister stress building on Lebanon ceasefire for regional de-escalation

CAIRO – 27 November 2024: President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, expressed their aspiration to building on the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon to promote de-escalation in the region during their meeting in Cairo on Wednesday.

Sisi and Al-Thani underscored the critical importance of strengthening Lebanese state institutions, particularly the Lebanese army, to safeguard Lebanon's security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, said a statement by the Egyptian presidential spokesperson.

The timing of their meeting coincides with the initiation of a US-France-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon earlier today, marking the end of nearly 14 months of intense conflict that had brought the region to the brink of a full-scale war.

However, the ceasefire agreement does not encompass the Israeli war in Gaza, which has persisted since October 2023, killing 44,249 Palestinians and injuring over 104,700 others, according to Gaza health authorities on Tuesday.

Regarding Gaza, Sisi and Al-Thani reiterated the urgent need for the international community to fulfill its obligations in addressing the disastrous humanitarian crisis endured by the people in the enclave.

They called for serious and true steps to deliver essential humanitarian aid to the Palestinian population and alleviate their suffering.

Discussions also focused on the joint endeavors of both nations to secure a ceasefire in Gaza, facilitate the release of captives, and ensure the unconditional provision of humanitarian and relief aid to the enclave.

Sisi and Al-Thani emphasized the importance of coordinated actions to support the Palestinian people and uphold their legitimate rights to establish a sovereign and independent state in accordance with international legitimacy resolutions while safeguarding Palestinian national interests.

Al-Thani commended Egypt's continuous efforts in delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza and expressed Qatar's keenness to endorse the outcomes of the upcoming ministerial conference to be hosted in Cairo, aimed at enhancing humanitarian responses in Gaza as a pivotal measure to support the inhabitants of the enclave.

During their meeting, Al-Thani conveyed the regards of Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, reaffirming Doha’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with Egypt.

Al-Thani also highlighted the significance that the Qatari government places on enhancing bilateral relations with Egypt across political, economic, and investment spheres.

Sisi reiterated the mutual desire to elevate the relations between the two countries to the level of the aspirations of both fraternal peoples and the regional and international challenges they encounter.

Egypt, Qatar, and the US have spearheaded mediation efforts between Israel and Hamas since the war began on October 7, 2023.

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

Since the start of the war, Israeli forces have killed 44,249 Palestinians, injured over 104,700 others, according to the health ministry in Gaza on Tuesday.

The war also devastated critical infrastructure and pushed the enclave toward the brink of famine.

CEASEFIRE EFFECTIVE

Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon initiated a US-France-brokered ceasefire on Wednesday, ending nearly 14 months of intense fighting that brought the region closer to an all-out war.

Israeli forces have killed over 3,700 people during the war, according to Lebanese authorities, and forced around 1.2 million Lebanese people to flee their homes, with Israeli airstrikes levelling building in Beirut and the southern suburbs.

No immediate violations of the ceasefire have been reported thus far.

The ceasefire agreement, which took effect at 4 AM on Wednesday, stipulates an initial two-month cessation of hostilities, with key provisions requiring Hezbollah to withdraw its armed presence from southern Lebanon and Israeli troops to retreat to their designated side of the border.

The agreement also mandates the deployment of thousands of additional Lebanese troops and UN peacekeepers in the southern region, while an international panel led by the United States will oversee compliance efforts.

Hezbollah is obligated under the deal to relocate its forces north of the Litani River, situated around 30 km north of the border.