Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan Work Together to Prevent Gaza Conflict from Escalating into Regional War
Fiona Nanna, ForeMedia News
4 minutes read. Updated 7:51PM GMT Tues, 6August, 2024
In a significant development aimed at de-escalating the ongoing conflict in Gaza, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan held a joint press conference in Cairo on Monday. The ministers emphasized their countries’ commitment to exploring all available options to prevent the Israel-Gaza conflict from spiraling into a larger regional crisis.
During the news briefing, both Abdelatty and Fidan expressed deep concern over the escalating violence and its potential repercussions across the region. The Egyptian Foreign Minister condemned the use of assassination tactics and violations of sovereignty, highlighting the urgent need for a unified approach to halt the dangerous escalation. Abdelatty stressed that immediate and coordinated action is crucial to preventing the conflict from evolving into a full-scale regional war.
The discussions extended beyond Gaza, covering a range of pressing issues including the conditions in Libya and Sudan, unrest in the Red Sea, and ongoing problems in Yemen. The Turkish Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan, underscored Turkey’s active involvement in addressing the crisis by monitoring Israel’s actions at the International Court of Justice. Fidan announced Turkey’s plan to file a formal application with the court on Wednesday, asserting that establishing a Palestinian state is essential for achieving lasting peace in the Middle East.
Turkey has positioned itself as a prominent critic of Israel’s actions in Gaza, and Fidan accused Israel of undermining peace efforts. Both Egypt and Turkey have jointly called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and condemned recent casualties, including the death of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.
The meeting between Fidan and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi also signifies a pivotal moment in the effort to mend relations between Ankara and Cairo. For nearly a decade, diplomatic relations between Turkey and Egypt were strained, primarily due to Turkey’s support for Egypt’s former Islamist leader Mohammed Morsi, who was ousted by the military during widespread protests in 2013.
In recent years, Turkey has recalibrated its approach, moving towards a more cooperative stance with el-Sissi’s administration in an effort to repair and strengthen bilateral ties.
Focus Keyword Phrases:
- Egypt-Turkey cooperation on Gaza crisis
- Israel-Gaza conflict escalation
- Turkey’s stance on Palestinian state
- Diplomatic relations between Ankara and Cairo
