Egypt’s Foreign Minister, Badr Abdelatty, has strongly criticized Israel’s continued settlement expansion in the West Bank, describing it as a calculated move to undermine the two-state solution and dismantle the prospects for a Palestinian state.
In a phone call with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, Abdelatty reaffirmed Egypt’s rejection of these policies, which he warned would exacerbate tensions and destabilize the region.
Highlighting the escalating violations in Gaza and the West Bank, Abdelatty stressed the urgent need for international and regional efforts to achieve an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. He emphasized that halting the violence is a critical step toward de-escalation and addressing the worsening humanitarian crisis in the enclave.
The conflict, which erupted in October 2023, has resulted in over 44,000 Palestinian deaths and nearly 104,000 injuries, according to Gaza’s health ministry. Critical infrastructure has been decimated, leaving millions on the brink of famine.
Abdelatty urged the international community to scale up humanitarian aid for Palestinians, condemning Israeli forces for obstructing relief efforts and violating international law.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has described the situation in Gaza as catastrophic, with civilians suffering from severe shortages of food, water, medical supplies, and shelter. The majority of the population now lacks access to proper healthcare, according to an ICRC report.
Egypt remains committed to working with global and regional partners to facilitate humanitarian assistance and push for a sustainable resolution to the conflict, grounded in peace and justice.
