Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty greeting The Palestinian Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Mustafa ahead of their meeting. Photo courtesy of Egyptian Foreign Ministry Facebook page.
According to a statement by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, this occurred during their Friday meeting on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF), which runs from 11 to 13 April in Turkey.
The two sides also discussed support for the Arab-Islamic plan for Gaza's reconstruction, which is coordinated with international partners, and the preparations for the reconstruction conference Egypt is hosting with the Palestinian government and the United Nations (UN).
Moreover, the two foreign ministers discussed the situation in the West Bank amid ongoing military incursions into its cities and refugee camps.
On Thursday, Israeli forces intensified their operations in the northern occupied West Bank, arresting over a dozen Palestinians and demolishing multiple homes.
In this context, Abdelatty reaffirmed Egypt's firm rejection of the displacement of Palestinians from their land and its steadfast support for their inalienable rights.
He stressed the need to create a political horizon for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state along the 4 June 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Meeting several African FMs
In tandem, on the sidelines of the ADF, Abdelatty held bilateral meetings with several African counterparts from Angola, Zambia, Congo, and Gambia.
The discussions focused on strengthening bilateral ties, promoting African integration, enhancing economic cooperation, and supporting Egypt's nominee for the position of Director-General of UNESCO, Khaled El-Enany.
The meetings also addressed key African issues of mutual concern, notably efforts to achieve security and stability and counter terrorism across the continent.
Since the outbreak of Israel's genocidal war on Gaza on 7 October 2023, Egypt has maintained a steadfast stance in support of the Palestinian people, firmly rejecting any efforts to undermine their legitimate cause.
Egypt is simultaneously working closely with Qatar to restore and uphold the truce, halt the resurgence of Israeli aggression, and advance negotiations towards implementing a second phase of the ceasefire.
On 24 March, Cairo condemned Israel's decision to establish a new directorate under the Ministry of Defense to facilitate the so-called "voluntary departure" of Palestinians from Gaza and its approval of plans to authorize 13 new settlements in the occupied West Bank.
On 18 March, Israel unleashed a brutal assault on Gaza, massacring over 1,400 Palestinians and injuring hundreds more, as Tel Aviv unilaterally ended the Egypt, Qatar, and US brokered ceasefire that had been in place since 19 January, resuming its assault on Gaza.
Israel said the move aimed to compel Hamas to release all captives—dead and alive—immediately rather than during the agreed second phase.
This has raised the death toll to 50,886 documented fatalities, with an additional 115,875 wounded, the majority of whom are women and children.
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