Egypt’s president has accused Israel of undermining talks aimed at a cease-fire in Gaza. Addressing an Arab League summit in Bahrain on Thursday, Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi said Israel “continues to engage in evasive actions to shirk its responsibilities and in devious maneuvering around efforts to achieve a cease-fire.”
Quick Read
- Accusation Against Israel: Egypt’s president accused Israel of undermining efforts to negotiate a ceasefire in Gaza.
- Details of Actions: He criticized Israel for engaging in evasive actions to avoid responsibility and for maneuvering deviously in ceasefire talks. He highlighted Israel’s control over the Gaza side of the Rafah crossing as a move to strengthen its siege on Gaza.
- Historical Context: Egypt was the first Arab nation to sign a peace treaty with Israel, and the two countries have maintained a cooperative security relationship.
- Rising Tensions: The relationship has been strained due to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, particularly after Israel’s operation at the Rafah crossing.
- Peace Treaty Concerns: Egypt has warned that significant Israeli military operations in Rafah could jeopardize the longstanding peace treaty, which is considered crucial for regional stability.
- Mediator Role: Egypt plays a significant role as a mediator between Israel and Hamas, though recent talks have failed to yield a ceasefire or the release of hostages held by Hamas.
The Associated Press has the story:
Egypt’s President accuses Israel of undermining cease-fire talks
Newslooks- CAIRO — (AP)
Egypt’s president has accused Israel of undermining talks aimed at a cease-fire in Gaza. Addressing an Arab League summit in Bahrain on Thursday, Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi said Israel “continues to engage in evasive actions to shirk its responsibilities and in devious maneuvering around efforts to achieve a cease-fire.”
He said that by seizing the Gaza side of the Rafah crossing with Egypt last week, Israel aimed to “solidify its siege on the Gaza Strip.”
Egypt was the first Arab country to make peace with Israel and the two countries have long cooperated on security.
But Egyptian officials have expressed mounting frustration since the start of the war in Gaza and tensions soared after the Rafah operation.
Egypt has warned that any major Israeli operation in Rafah could endanger the decades-old peace treaty, widely seen as a cornerstone of stability in the Middle East.
Egypt is also one of the main mediators between Israel and Hamas. The last round of talks aimed at a cease-fire and the release of Hamas-held hostages ended last week without a breakthrough.
