After the Hamas attack and the Israeli counterattacks, international politicians are struggling to find ways out of the violence. Egypt announces an emergency summit to help the people of the Gaza Strip. Iran threatens Israel.
After Hamas’ major attack and Israel’s counterattack, Egypt wants to organize a summit with regional and international actors. The Egyptian authorities said it would be about aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip and de-escalation.
According to security information, eight planes carrying aid deliveries from Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Tunisia and the World Health Organization (WHO) have arrived at the Egyptian al-Arish airport near the Gaza Strip in recent days, according to security information. A convoy with more than a hundred trucks is waiting in the Egyptian city to enter the Gaza Strip. However, the Rafah border crossing is currently closed after the Israeli Air Force bombed it three times on Monday and Tuesday.
An aid convoy waits for an agreement at the Rafah border crossing in the city of Al-Arish on Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula.
Baerbock and Blinken in Egypt
Egypt is traditionally seen as a mediator between Israel and Palestinians. In 1979 the country made peace with Israel. Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock visited the country on Saturday and held crisis talks in the capital Cairo with the Secretary General of the Arab League, the Turkish and Egyptian Foreign Ministers.
In a joint statement, the 27 EU states declared Israel’s right to self-defense. The EU condemns Hamas’ brutal attack on Israel: “There is no justification for terror.” Israel must defend itself – but it is also important to protect the lives of civilians.
Today, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Cairo and met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Blinken is currently traveling to several countries in the region; he has already been to Israel, Jordan, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. The US remains focused on stopping Hamas’ terrorist attacks, securing the release of all hostages and preventing the conflict from spreading, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said.
China wants Special Envoy send
Blinken met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the Saudi capital Riyadh. Saudi Arabia is seeking de-escalation and intensifying its efforts to ensure respect for international humanitarian law, bin Salman said, according to state media. Saudi Arabia is considered an important protective power for the Palestinians.
Next week, China also plans to send a special envoy to the region for talks. Diplomat Zhai Jun announced on Chinese state broadcaster CCTV that he would work for the protection of civilians, a ceasefire and peace talks. China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi sharply criticized Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip: “Israel’s actions went beyond the scope of self-defense.”
Iran warns Israel
Iran warned Israel against invading the Gaza Strip. No one can guarantee that the conflict will not spread if Israel continues its attacks on the “defenseless population of the Gaza Strip,” said Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian at a meeting with the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin, according to his ministry Hamad Al-Thani.
Amir-Abdollahian also spoke with Hamas chief Ismail Haniya at a meeting in the Qatari capital Doha about strengthening the “axis of resistance” against Israel, the Iranian state agency Irna reported. Amir-Abdollahian and Hanija consulted for three hours in Doha.
The Iranian minister had previously met allies in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon, including Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.