Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty speaks during the 51st ministerial meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states in Istanbul, Turkiye. Photo: Egyptian foreign ministry
“Egypt strongly condemns this escalation, as it poses a direct threat to regional and international security and stability,” Abdelatty said during the 51st session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers in Istanbul.
He said the Israeli aggression on Iran - a direct violation of international law and the UN Charter - had preempted Washington-Tehran talks brokered by Oman, aimed at reviving diplomacy over Iran's nuclear programme. “These negotiations aimed to prevent the region from descending into a new wave of escalation and conflict, which would negatively impact all countries in the region.”
Abdelatty reiterated that “there are no military solutions to this crisis,” urging a ceasefire, return to negotiations, and “halt [to] the current military escalation.”
He also called for a comprehensive approach to Iran’s nuclear file. He renewed Egypt’s call for a Middle East free of weapons of mass destruction, criticizing Israel’s refusal to join the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) or to place its nuclear facilities under IAEA safeguards.
Gaza and Palestinian statehood
Turning to the war in Gaza, Abdelatty condemned “the brutal Israeli aggression” on the Strip and warned of efforts to displace Palestinians forcibly. “The OIC has always played a pivotal role in supporting the Palestinian cause,” he said.
He insisted that regional peace cannot be achieved without “ending the occupation and establishing a Palestinian state on the 4 June 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.”
Abdelatty stressed that the Palestinian cause remains at the forefront of Egypt’s foreign policy priorities, in line with its historic role in defending Arab and Islamic rights.
Cairo has been working alongside Doha to push for a ceasefire and deliver humanitarian aid. “Since the beginning of the brutal Israeli aggression on Gaza, Egypt has worked to reach a sustainable ceasefire, in cooperation with Qatar, and to deliver humanitarian aid to the Strip,” he said, citing the worsening humanitarian crisis for more than two million Palestinians.
He praised regional and international support for Palestinian rights. He welcomed OIC support for Egypt's Arab-Islamic plan for Gaza’s recovery, which he said should begin “as soon as a ceasefire is reached. " He also welcomed convening a high-level international conference in Cairo to support the plan.
Regional instability
FM Abdelatty also addressed other Middle East crises.
“Egypt condemns the repeated Israeli violations of Syrian and Lebanese sovereignty,” he said, calling for the immediate withdrawal from the Golan Heights and other Syrian territories, as well as from southern Lebanon, and the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701.
On Libya, he stressed the importance of an inclusive political process and simultaneous elections alongside the departure of foreign forces. He said Egypt remains committed to protecting Libya’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Regarding Sudan, Abdelatty said Egypt supports a Sudanese-owned political process free from any external interference and would continue cooperating with regional partners to stabilize the country.
He also affirmed Egypt’s support for Somalia's security and called for broader international backing.
He also stressed the need for a political settlement in Yemen to end the humanitarian crisis and preserve the country’s unity.
On the summit's sidelines, Abdelatty participated in an Arab League coordination meeting and held talks with counterparts from Tunisia, Somalia, Chad, Gambia, Gabon, and Djibouti. Discussions focused on regional security, bilateral ties, and unified action within the OIC to prevent further instability.
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