Photo courtesy of Egypt's foreign ministry
Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty met Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob and participated in a forum panel titled From Board of Peace to Broader Peace in the Middle East, where he highlighted Slovenia’s recognition of the Palestinian state, its voting record at the United Nations (UN), and its support for ceasefire efforts in Gaza.
Slovenia formally recognized the State of Palestine in June 2024, becoming one of the first countries to do so following the outbreak of Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza in October 2023, ahead of broader recognition during the 80th UN General Assembly in September 2025. The country has repeatedly backed UN resolutions in support of Palestinian rights and condemned Israel's war on the strip.
In August 2025, Slovenia became the first European Union (EU) country to ban all weapons trade with Israel over its war on Gaza, according to the Slovenian government. A month later, it barred Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from entering the country, citing his indictment by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on war crimes charges.
Addressing the war on Gaza, Abdelatty outlined Egypt’s efforts since the start of the conflict to broker a ceasefire, facilitate humanitarian aid deliveries, and prevent the forced displacement of Palestinians. He said a ceasefire was a necessary first step toward stabilization and eventual reconstruction.
He said early recovery in Gaza was critical to restoring basic services and living conditions and to creating the groundwork for longer-term reconstruction.
Abdelatty said Egypt supported the implementation of US President Donald Trump’s peace plan, including its second phase and the formation of a National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG). He said the committee should be empowered to manage civilian affairs in the Strip as a transitional arrangement.
Egypt, he said, supports training Palestinian police forces and backs the deployment of an International Stabilization Force (ISF) to monitor adherence to a ceasefire in Gaza.
The foreign minister also warned of the deteriorating situation in the occupied West Bank, condemning rising settler violence and Israeli policies of illegal land confiscation and settlement expansion. He said these actions threaten the viability of a two-state solution and undermine prospects for peace.
Abdelatty said efforts to manage the crisis in Gaza must be linked to a broader political process, warning against treating the strip in isolation from the wider Palestinian issue. He said any sustainable peace would require a comprehensive settlement leading to the establishment of a Palestinian state along the 4 June 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
He also addressed regional tensions linked to Iran’s nuclear programme, calling for de-escalation and diplomatic engagement to prevent a wider conflict.
Abdelatty’s visit to Ljubljana coincided with a meeting of the Arab-Islamic Ministerial Committee on Gaza, hosted on Friday at the invitation of Slovenia’s foreign minister, Tanja Fajon.
Short link: