Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty issued a stark warning Sunday about the growing risk of a full-scale regional war as clashes between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah intensify, potentially derailing efforts to broker a ceasefire in Gaza.
Speaking at the United Nations headquarters ahead of the annual summit of world leaders, Abdelatty expressed grave concern over the escalating situation. “There is great concern about… the possibility of an escalation in the region leading to an all-out regional war,” he told AFP, emphasizing that the intensified conflict was impeding ceasefire negotiations.
Despite these challenges, Abdelatty reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment, alongside Qatar and the United States, to securing a truce in Gaza. The three nations have been engaged in months-long negotiations aimed at both achieving a ceasefire and securing the release of hostages held in Gaza.
“All the elements of an agreement are on the table,” Abdelatty stated, attributing the lack of progress to “an absence of political will, especially on the Israeli side.”
The Egyptian diplomat also criticized Israel’s actions, describing them as provocative and blaming them for the escalation with Hezbollah, which is aligned with Hamas. “We are talking to our regional and international partners, including the United States, about the importance of working to stop the escalation and stop the unilateral and provocative policies that Israel is carrying out,” Abdelatty said, warning that a regional war would benefit no one.
These comments followed Abdelatty’s meetings in Washington with U.S. officials, including Amos Hochstein, who is spearheading efforts to mediate a truce between Lebanon and Israel.
Earlier in the week, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi reiterated his country’s commitment to ceasefire efforts during talks with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Blinken emphasized that a ceasefire would be crucial in preventing the violence from spreading across the Middle East.
The conflict, which began with Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, has resulted in over 1,200 Israeli deaths, mostly civilians. According to Israeli military sources, 97 hostages remain held in Gaza.
On the Palestinian side, the Gaza health ministry reports that more than 41,400 people have died in Gaza, the majority being civilians. The United Nations has acknowledged these figures as reliable.
The ongoing violence and escalating tensions between Israel and Hezbollah have raised international concerns about the potential for a wider regional conflict. Egypt’s warning underscores the urgent need for diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation and secure a lasting ceasefire in Gaza.
As world leaders gather for the UN summit, the situation in the Middle East is expected to be a focal point of discussions, with many countries calling for renewed efforts to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
Source: newscentral.africa
