Meeting with Chai Jun, China's special envoy to the Middle East, in Cairo on Tuesday, Abdelatty said on the ongoing US-Israel war on Iran must not divert attention from the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in the Gaza Strip.
Abdelatty said such a step is crucial to manage the current transitional phase toward restoring the Palestinian National Authority's full control over both Gaza and the West Bank, according to a foreign ministry statement.
The NCAG is a 15-member transitional technocratic body formed in January 2026 under UNSC Resolution 2803 and the US President Donald Trump’s peace plan. It is mandated to manage the strip's daily affairs, though Israel continues to block its entry.
The strip continues to grapple with the total collapse of its civil infrastructure, including a decimated healthcare system, following Israel's two-year-long war and as a result of its continued violations of the current ceasefire. Approximately 1.4 million people remain displaced, enduring life in overcrowded, makeshift shelters that offer little to no protection from the elements.
Minister Abdelatty also called for supporting early recovery and reconstruction efforts and improving humanitarian conditions in the territory, the statement added.
While acknowledging China's backing for the Palestinian cause, the top Egyptian diplomat urged concerted regional and international efforts to de-escalate tensions and prioritize political and diplomatic solutions.
This, he stressed, would prevent the region from descending into widespread instability.
Diplomacy is a must
On the US-Israel-Iran conflict, the minister warned against the dangers of military escalation, now on its 18th day, urging a return to diplomacy to prevent the expansion of the conflict.
He voiced Egypt's full support for the Gulf states and Jordan, strongly condemning Iranian attacks on Arab territories and describing any violation of Arab sovereignty as a direct threat to Egyptian and Arab national security.
Since the onset of the war on 28 February, Iran has launched dozens of missiles and drones against US military bases and energy facilities across Gulf nations, Jordan, and Iraq.
The escalating conflict has intensified fears of a wider regional spillover.
“There is no justification for these heinous attacks, and any infringement upon the sovereignty of any Arab state is a direct attack on Egyptian and Arab national security,” the statement quoted Abdelatty as saying.
Nile an existential lifeline
Turning to the issue of water security, Abdelatty reaffirmed that the Nile represents a lifeline for Egypt, particularly as the nation grapples with severe water scarcity.
He reiterated Cairo’s firm rejection of any unilateral actions regarding the transboundary waterway, referencing the long-standing dispute over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).
Abdelatty emphasized that Egypt remains committed to clear principles of serious and constructive cooperation with Nile Basin countries, adhering to international law in a manner that secures the shared interests of all parties.
70 years of diplomatic ties
Meanwhile, Minister Abdelatty lauded the strategic partnership between Egypt and China, praising the high level of coordination on key issues of mutual concern, including Middle Eastern affairs.
He also highlighted the strength of Egyptian-Chinese relations, expressing his aspiration to further elevate cooperation as the two nations approach the 70th anniversary of their diplomatic ties.
He encouraged more Chinese investment in Egypt’s industrial sector. He said such partnerships are vital for localizing industries, facilitating technology transfer, and strengthening regional industrial supply chains.
For his part, Chai Jun, who is currently on a regional tour, praised Egypt's stabilizing role in the region and its efforts to advance political solutions to ongoing conflicts.
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