As Israel’s heinous war on Gaza approaches its ninth month, the diplomatic friction between Tel Aviv and Cairo is seemingly coming to a head.
The ongoing genocidal war in Gaza has undone much of the smoothness Sisi has been trying to bring into the Israel-Egypt relations after a US backed military coup ousted the democratically elected government of Mohammed Morsi, the Egyptian president who was a leader of the Muslim Brotherhood.
The rift was widened when Egypt announced its willingness to join the genocide case against Israel initiated by South Africa in the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Reports suggest that Cairo had even considered withdrawing its ambassador from Tel Aviv.
Last month, an Egyptian soldier was killed in a cross-firing with the Israeli forces at the Rafah border crossing. Local media reported that the soldiers were “affected” by the Rafah massacre, in which Israeli airstrikes killed 45 Palestinians at a camp.
Israel’s unhinged attitude throughout different stages of ceasefire talks mediated by Egypt has also added to the turmoil.
Above all, the Egyptian people, agitated over Israel’s genocidal war, have been protesting on streets since day one.
In a new major development, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on Tuesday has once again called for Israel to withdraw from the southern Gazan town of Rafah, in a long speech.
He held Tel Aviv entirely responsible for the unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe in the besieged enclave, while speaking at the Urgent Humanitarian Response for Gaza Conference in Jordan on Tuesday.
“The responsibility for the unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in the Gaza Strip lies squarely with the Israeli side,” Sisi said at the conference jointly organised by the UN, Jordan, and Egypt.
“This crisis is the deliberate outcome of a devastating, vindictive war waged against the Strip, its people, its infrastructure, and its medical system,” he added.
The main purpose of the conference was “to reach consensus over practical measures to meet the immediate needs” in Gaza.
Sisi further stated, “This outrageous war has employed mass starvation and brutal siege to render the Gaza Strip uninhabitable and forcibly displace its inhabitants from their lands, with utter disregard for international conventions and moral humanitarian principles and standards.”
He pointed to Egypt “repeatedly” warning against “the menace of this war, its repercussions, and the formidable consequences of the Israeli military operations” in the southern town of Rafah which borders his country.
Sisi welcomed the UN Security Council resolution adopted on Monday and demanded its “full implementation,” as well as “other relevant resolutions.”
Despite a previous UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire, Israel has continued its genocidal war on Gaza.
Sisi reiterated the “crucial need for an urgent, comprehensive and sustainable ceasefire,” as well as full respect for international law and humanitarian law, including “the necessity to protect civilians and not to target the infrastructure, UN personnel, or medical and service staff in the Gaza Strip.”
He called for “immediate, vigorous, and tangible steps” to be taken to “oblige Israel to end the siege and stop using mass starvation as a collective punishment for the people of Gaza.”
This, Sisi said, is “in addition to committing Israel to remove all obstacles impeding the immediate, sustainable, and adequate flow of humanitarian relief aid” to Gaza through all crossings.
He also called for Israel “to withdraw from the city of Rafah,” and for conditions to be created “conducive to the immediate return of the displaced Palestinians,” who were forced to abandon their homes in Gaza due to the war.
“Military and security measures will only trigger more turmoil and bloodshed in our region,” El-Sisi emphasised, adding that “the only way” to establish peace, stability, and coexistence in the region is “to address the root causes of the conflict through the two-state solution.”
In addition, the Palestinian people should be granted “their legitimate right to establish an independent, viable state, along the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, a state that enjoys full membership of the United Nations.”
Among the positive developments anticipated, Cairo could channel its frustrations with Israel into more productive diplomacy by pushing the US to put a leash on Israel and prevent further advances in its brutal onslaught against Palestinians.
With Qatar’s latest mediation coming to a standstill, Egypt has a unique opportunity among Arab states to play a key role in reaching a long-delayed ceasefire.
Currently facing a trial at ICJ for committing a genocide against Palestinians, Israel has been waging a devastating war on Gaza since October 7.
Since then, Israel has been waging a devastating genocidal war on Gaza.
According to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, 37,202 Palestinians have been killed and 84,932 wounded.
