Egypt, Qatar foreign ministers discuss lastest developments in Gaza, Lebanon

Ahram Online , Saturday 12 Oct 2024

Egypt's Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr Abdelatty and Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani discussed in a phone call on Saturday the latest developments in Gaza and Lebanon.

Badr Abdelatty
Egypt's Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr Abdelatty (L) and Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani (R)

 

According to a statement from the Egyptian foreign ministry, the call focused on joint efforts to establish a ceasefire in Gaza, secure the release of hostages, and ensure unhindered access to humanitarian aid for the strip.

Abdelatty highlighted Egypt’s initiatives for Palestinian reconciliation, including hosting delegations from the Fatah and Hamas movements in Cairo.

Additionally, the ministers addressed the escalating situation in Lebanon amid ongoing Israeli actions, emphasizing the critical need for a ceasefire and support for Lebanese state institutions, particularly the Lebanese army.

They urged the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which facilitates the deployment of the Lebanese army in southern Lebanon.

Both ministers also reiterated the necessity for Israel to withdraw from all Lebanese territories while ensuring the safety of UN personnel in the UN peacekeeping forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which Israel targeted on Thursday.

The resolution, unanimously approved by the UNSC on 11 August 2006, called for a complete Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon following the Israeli aggression against the country. It also called for the Lebanese army and the UNIFIL to be the only armed forces south of the Litani River, 30 km (around 20 miles) from Lebanon's southern border.    

In addition, the Egyptian and Qatari sides stressed the importance of electing a president to complete the formation of Lebanese state institutions, the statement noted.

They also called for coordinated regional and international efforts to deliver humanitarian, shelter, and medical assistance to the Lebanese population, who face severe challenges due to the displacement of over 1.2 million people from repeated Israeli attacks.

Moreover, according to the statement, the ministers reaffirmed their commitment to preserving Lebanon's unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.

Since mid-September, Israel has extended its operations in Gaza to Lebanon, carrying out extensive airstrikes across the country, including Dahiyeh in Beirut.

The Israeli attacks resulted in the death of over 1,400 people and the injuries of more than 10,000 others, following nearly a year of cross-border exchanges with Hezbollah.

Israel has also attempted a ground invasion in southern Lebanon but encountered significant resistance from Hezbollah fighters.

In Gaza, Israel has killed at least 41,909 since 7 October 2023, mostly children and women, damaged most of the strip’s infrastructure and displaced the majority of its population.

Egypt and Qatar, along with the US, have been mediating indirect talks between Israel and Hamas to reach a ceasefire in the yearlong Israeli war in Gaza.

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