Abdelatty, Blinken discuss latest developments on Israeli war on Gaza, Lebanon

CAIRO- 3 November 2024: Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration Baer Abdelatty received a phone call today, Sunday, from his US counterpart Anthony Blinken, and discussed the ongoing consultations on the successive developments in the Middle East region and efforts to quickly reach a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon and stop the escalation in the region.

Abdelatty affirmed Egypt's categorical rejection and condemnation of the escalating Israeli measures obstructing the entry of humanitarian aid and preventing UNRWA from carrying out its role.

Abdelatty said it is important to empower the Palestinian Authority, and to deal with the West Bank and Gaza Strip as an integrated unit of Palestinian lands in preparation for ending the occupation and establishing the Palestinian state.

The two ministers reviewed the developments in Lebanon, where they exchanged views on the political and field developments in Lebanon.

Minister Abdelatty stressed the need for concerted international efforts to achieve an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon, establish a truce, fully implement Security Council Resolution 1701, and provide all forms of humanitarian support in light of the severe humanitarian crisis that Lebanon is going through.

He also reviewed the Egyptian efforts aimed at ending the presidential vacancy crisis in Lebanon. Both Ministers stressed the importance of electing a president for Lebanon with Lebanese consensus and without external dictates, and the importance of supporting Lebanese institutions, most notably the Lebanese army. They also stressed the need to respect Lebanese sovereignty and the unity and integrity of its territories.

The Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs condemned Israel's incursion into Lebanese territory and the Israeli army's targeting of UNIFIL forces as it violates the Lebanese sovereignty and international law.

The two ministers also reviewed the dangerous developments in Sudan, and the efforts made to ensure a ceasefire and the access of humanitarian aid. Abdelatty reiterated the importance of preserving and supporting the Sudanese state institutions, respecting the unity and integrity of Sudanese territories, and intensifying humanitarian and relief aid to Sudan in light of the deteriorating humanitarian conditions it is witnessing.

Minister Abdelatty also addressed with his American counterpart the issue of Egyptian water security, stressing that it is an existential issue for Egypt. 

Abdelatty affirmed that Egypt will not allow any party to threaten its water security, highlighting the importance of the Nile River as an artery of cooperation between the Nile Basin countries and not a cause of conflict or tension, by adhering to the relevant rules of international law and avoiding unilateral measures that would threaten regional stability.