The Egyptian newspaper “Al-Gomhuria” stated that Abdel-Aaty’s remarks came during a phone call he received from his British counterpart. The two sides discussed ways to enhance bilateral relations between Egypt and the United Kingdom, in addition to international efforts to ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and facilitate humanitarian aid access. Abdel-Aaty praised the noticeable development in Egyptian-British relations recently, confirming both sides’ pursuit to elevate cooperation to a strategic partnership, with a focus on boosting economic, trade, and investment exchange.
The call also addressed regional situations, with the Egyptian minister emphasizing the need for international community action against “irresponsible” Israeli policies, warning of the repercussions of statements and practices that threaten to escalate violence and violate international law. He highlighted ongoing regional and international efforts to halt Israeli aggression on Gaza and ensure unobstructed aid entry.
In a related context, Abdel-Aaty welcomed the announcement by the United Kingdom and several Western countries of their intention to study recognizing the Palestinian state during the upcoming session of the United Nations General Assembly in September, considering this path the only guarantee for achieving peace in the region based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. The Egyptian minister also reviewed his country’s efforts to facilitate aid entry into Gaza amidst the catastrophic humanitarian crisis, emphasizing the importance of international pressure to end the starvation policy against civilians.
He briefed his British counterpart on ongoing preparations to hold a conference for the reconstruction of the sector in cooperation with the Palestinian government and the United Nations once a ceasefire is achieved. For his part, the British minister expressed his appreciation for Egypt’s efforts in managing the humanitarian crisis and supporting the peace process.
Earlier, the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemned Bezalel Smotrich regarding his expansionist settlement plans in the West Bank, describing them as a “flagrant violation of international law, Security Council resolutions, and international charters.” A statement from the Egyptian Foreign Ministry today affirmed that “Smotrich’s announcement reflects the Israeli government’s insistence on seizing Palestinian lands and altering its demographic status,” stressing that “Egypt denounces these extremist statements calling for imposing Israeli sovereignty and illegal settlement expansion.”
