Egypt: Summit in Cairo without result

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At the summit in Egypt there was criticism of Israel’s attacks in the Gaza Strip as well as Hamas’ terror. The participants called for peace efforts.

Oct 21, 2023 | 01:44 minutes

A Middle East conference in Cairo convened by Egypt at short notice has ended without results. However, the invited heads of state and government as well as the foreign ministers agreed on a joint statement.

“No agreement was reached,” reports ZDF correspondent Golineh Atai from Cairo. This was no surprise for German Foreign Minister Baerbock. Nevertheless, Baerbock views the conference positively, which is a sign that Europe and the Arab states cannot be driven apart. That is Hamas’ goal.

In view of the escalation in the Middle East, Egypt has invited people to a summit meeting. ZDF correspondents Michael Bewerunge and Golineh Atai know what the summit was able to achieve.

Oct 21, 2023 | 02:27 min

At the summit in Cairo, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi presented a plan comprising several points.

These include

  • ensuring continued aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip,
  • the negotiation of a ceasefire and
  • the resumption of peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians to establish a Palestinian state based on the borders before the 1967 Middle East war.

“We are facing an unprecedented crisis that requires full attention to prevent the conflict from escalating,” said the president and host of the summit.

Israel’s military has urged civilians to leave the north of the Gaza Strip. What does this announcement mean for a possible upcoming ground offensive?

Oct 13, 2023 | 33:18 minutes

Baerbock: Protect civilians

At the invitation of Egypt, several heads of state and government from the Middle East region as well as representatives of the UN and Western countries took part in the summit. Among them were

  • UN Secretary General António Guterres,
  • Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas
  • Jordan’s King Abdullah II as well
  • EU Council President Charles Michel
Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock took part on behalf of Germany. Israel was not there. Egypt plays an important mediating role in the conflict. “The fight against Hamas must be waged with the greatest possible humanitarian consideration for the innocent men, women and children in Gaza,” Baerbock said at the conference.

“I appeal to everyone to always distinguish between terrorists and civilians.

Annalena Baerbock, Federal Foreign Minister

The terrorist perpetrators do not speak for the Palestinian people. The civilians in the Gaza Strip need humanitarian aid, said Baerbock.

Press statement by António Guterres (Secretary General of the United Nations) on, among other things, the aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip on October 20, 23

Oct 20, 2023 | 09:34 minutes

Guterres condemns Hamas attack and calls for the protection of civilians

UN Secretary-General António Guterres said Hamas’s “reprehensible attack” on Israel “can never justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people.” He called for the protection of civilians. Civilian infrastructure such as hospitals, schools and UN facilities would have to be exempt from air strikes. He referred to “the broader context” of the war.

A two-state solution is “the only realistic basis for true peace and stability.” The UN is working around the clock with all parties to ensure a sustainable delivery of aid to the Israeli-sealed Gaza Strip, Guterres said.

On Saturday, a convoy of 20 trucks brought the first relief supplies there. However, continued deliveries on a much larger scale are necessary.

EU Council President Michel also emphasized that civilians and their infrastructure in the Gaza Strip must be protected. “We believe that it is also necessary to support the strengthening of the Palestinian Authority, which corresponds to the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people,” Michel said.

Many dead after Hamas attack

The Islamist Hamas invaded Israeli border towns with hundreds of terrorists on October 7th and carried out a massacre with 1,400 deaths. A good 200 people were kidnapped as hostages in the Gaza Strip, including Germans.

Israel imposed a blockade on the Gaza Strip after the Hamas attacks and has been bombing targets there ever since. According to the latest figures from the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip, at least 4,137 people died in the attacks.

Arab states sharply criticize Israel

Sharp criticism of Israel’s reaction to the attack came from Jordan’s King Abdullah II, among others. The “relentless bombardment in Gaza” was “cruel and unscrupulous on every level.” “It is a collective punishment for a besieged and helpless population. It is a blatant breach of international humanitarian law. It is a war crime.”

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas emphasized: “We will never leave. We will never leave our land. We will stand tall on our land until the end.”

Escalation with Hamas: Current news about the situation in Israel

The radical Islamic Hamas attacked Israel and took hostages. Israel is preparing a ground offensive and carrying out air strikes in Gaza. Current news in the live blog.

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