Egypt says mediation efforts faltered in Gaza
5 Min Read
Egypt underlines that its mediation effort has faltered in Gaza in light of the tense situation on the battlefront with the Israeli occupation.
-
Smoke rises over the skyline following an Israeli airstrike, in Gaza, May 11, 2023 (AP)
Egypt's mediation efforts are still ongoing in a bid to reach a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip in light of the ongoing Israeli aggression, though Cairo's efforts to reach an armistice have not met the desired success, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said Thursday.
The Egyptian top diplomat called during a joint press conference with his Jordanian, German, and French counterparts for the international community and countries seeking to bolster the "peace process" to intervene to put an end to the aggression the Palestinian people are sustaining.
Shoukry called on the countries in question to "put an end to the Israeli unilateral measures aimed at destroying the State of Palestine."
The Egyptian foreign minister also underlined that his country maintained the same stance regarding the Palestinian cause despite the regional status quo. He stressed that Egypt would continue making its efforts to reach its goal of a ceasefire and communicate with both sides within the framework of Arab-international cooperation.
The tense situation in occupied Palestine as a result of the repeated Israeli raids on occupied Palestinian cities and the constant targeting of civilians is a dangerous escalation that indicates that the situation is spiraling out of control, which would require an uptick in international efforts to put an end to the Israeli violations, as well as regional cooperation to ensure the success of the path toward this objective.
Shoukry, along with the foreign ministers of Jordan, Germany, and France, participated and met as part of the Munich Group, the only format that sees Arab-European cooperation with regard to this issue, to discuss the latest developments in occupied Palestine and ways to advance and intensify efforts to calm and reduce tension.
"An Egyptian delegation is on its way to Israel within the framework of the ceasefire negotiations," Israeli media reported.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent to Cairo reported that the Egyptian delegation has a document to present to the Israeli occupation in light of the ceasefire talks.
The foreign ministers of the countries in question called for an end to the violence taking Gaza by storm three days into the Israeli aggression on the Strip.
"The bloodshed must stop now," German Foreign Minister Analina Baerbock said after talks with her counterparts in Berlin.
Israeli media cited a political source earlier on Thursday as saying that the Israeli occupation did not agree to hand over the body of martyred prisoner Khader Adnan as part of a condition to reach a ceasefire.
The media added that "Israel" did not agree to stop assassinations against the Palestinian Resistance.
A Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) Movement source had revealed that the head of the PIJ political department, Mohammad Al-Hindi, was arriving in Cairo on Thursday to discuss developments in the situation and stopping the Israeli aggression on Gaza, pointing out the movement requires an Israeli commitment to stop assassinations in order to deescalate the situation in Gaza.
In a related context, Israeli media reported that Israeli occupation PM Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud Party ministers and MKs have been told that reports that "Israel" will agree to a ceasefire with conditions that are fake.
This comes as the Palestinian Ministry of Health announced that the number of Palestinians martyred, as a result, has risen to 26, in addition to 84 injuries.
US pressuring 'Israel'
Moreover, Israeli correspondent Barak Ravid revealed that US President Joe Biden's administration officials stressed to "Israel" the need to de-escalate the ongoing situation in Gaza.
"Biden administration officials spoke last night with their Israeli counterparts and stressed that while the US supports Israel's right to defend itself, there is a need to de-escalate the situation in Gaza," Ravid tweeted.
The Israeli correspondent suggested that "the fact that the Biden administration made these messages public suggests there is a growing pressure by the U.S. on Israel to end its military operation in Gaza."
Despite the Pentagon saying that US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on Wednesday "reaffirmed his ironclad support for Israel’s security," it said that the US Defense chief "urged de-escalation towards a sustainable calm."
Similarly, White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan spoke to his Israeli counterpart Tzachi Hanegbi, "noted continued regional efforts to broker a ceasefire, and emphasized the need to deescalate tensions and prevent further loss of life," as per a White House statement.
Aggression could not alter status-quo
Israeli media reported Wednesday that the aggression on Gaza failed to break any equation or change anything fundamental, advising the government to come clean with the Israeli occupation settlers on that matter.
"It is recommended that the government explain this truth" to the settlers in the Gaza envelope "before they wake up in a few weeks or days to the disturbing sound of the next red color alarm," Israel Hayom reported.
In the absence of a solution regarding "the Gaza problem (and Palestinian issue in general), Israel will continue to engage in battles with Gaza, the essence of which is engaging in short fighting rounds with the aim of achieving the longest possible truces between the two sides."
