Egypt’s foreign minister has stressed that his country deals with Hamas as a Palestinian national faction which is fully committed to the two understanding papers from the negotiations of 27 May and 2 July regarding a ceasefire in Gaza and prisoner exchange with Israel. Badr Abdel Aati made his comment during a press conference with his US counterpart Antony Blinken on Wednesday, reports Middle East Monitor.
The top Egyptian diplomat also addressed the current escalation in Lebanon, saying that it puts obstacles in the way of reaching a ceasefire-prisoner swap agreement. He warned that further escalation could lead to all-out war.
“We discussed the catastrophic conditions in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, and we emphasised that the top priority is the immediate cessation of aggression and concluding a deal that sees the release of all hostages and prisoners and guarantees full and unconditional access of all humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip,” explained Abdel Aati.
Despite the ongoing mediation efforts and the presentation of one agreement after another to end the war on Gaza and exchange prisoners, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to set new conditions, which Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and Mossad chief David Barnea have warned previously would hinder any deal. These conditions include Israeli control of the Philadelphi Corridor on the border between Gaza and Egypt, and the Rafah Border Crossing, and preventing the return of Palestinians to northern Gaza.
Abdel Aati pointed out that the focus should be on the two-state solution, especially the physical existence of an independent State of Palestine as soon as possible, given that there is already an Israeli state.
