Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty with his Lebanese counterpart, Youssef Raji during a joint press conference in Cairo. Photo courtesy of Egyptian Foreign Ministry.
During a press conference in Cairo with his Lebanese counterpart, Abdallah Bou Habib, Abdelatty conveyed President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s invitation for Aoun to visit Egypt.
Both ministers urged full adherence to the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon and warned against the risks of renewed escalation.
Egypt fully supports Lebanon and its national institutions, Abdelatty said, calling for Israel’s complete withdrawal from all Lebanese territories, including the positions it continues to occupy in southern Lebanon.
He also urged all parties to fully implement the UN Resolution 1701 to preserve Lebanon’s sovereignty, unity, security, and stability.
Tensions have been running high in Lebanon amid intensified Israeli airstrikes. Since a ceasefire deal in November 2024 halted more than a year of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, at least 71 civilians have been killed in Lebanon by Israeli forces, the United Nations Human Rights Office reported last week.
However, Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah put the total death toll at 186.
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On bilateral relations, Abdelatty emphasised Egypt’s keenness to strengthen cooperation across all fields. He highlighted plans to convene the Joint Higher Committee in Cairo soon, noting Egyptian companies’ readiness to support Lebanon’s reconstruction.
Gaza Ceasefire Revival
During the press conference, Abdelatty also addressed the current situation in Gaza, asserting that Egypt, alongside Qatar and the United States, is actively working to revive the Gaza ceasefire agreement and secure the release of detainees and numerous prisoners.
He stressed Egypt’s intensive communication with regional and international partners to halt all violations against the sovereignty of Arab states.
Egypt’s top diplomat emphasised that the policy of double standards must be abandoned, asserting that the “arrogance of power will never lead to lasting security or genuine peace in the region.”
Furthermore, Abdelatty said that Egypt, in coordination with the United Nations, plans to convene the Cairo Conference to implement the Gaza Reconstruction Plan as soon as a ceasefire is achieved.
Meanwhile, he reaffirmed Egypt’s support for the Syrian people and its commitment to Syria’s sovereignty and stability in the region.
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