Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr Abdelatty condemned Israel’s ongoing year-long war on Gaza and its aggression on the West Bank, describing it as an ‘absolute shame’ on the international community and its institutions, which have been unable to put an end to the violence.
Speaking at the high-level General Debate of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Abdelatty strongly condemned ‘the dangerous Israeli escalation that knows no bounds and is pushing the region into the abyss.’
‘Our top priority is to end the bloodshed immediately, permanently, and unconditionally; to ensure humanitarian aid reaches Gaza; and to firmly oppose any attempts to liquidate the Palestinian cause through forced displacement or population replacement policies,’ Abdelatty added.
He noted that Egypt has engaged in intensive mediation efforts alongside Qatar and the United States, with Israel hindering these ceasefire efforts for several months.
Furthermore, Abdelatty reiterated that establishing a Palestin
ian state based on the borders of 4 June 1967, with East-Jerusalem as its capital, remains ‘the only path to a fair and comprehensive solution’ that can restore stability to the region and the world.
He affirmed that this is the central issue at the heart of the conflict in the region.
Lebanon crisis
Egypt’s top diplomat also declared Cairo’s full rejection and condemnation of the ongoing Israeli aggression against Lebanon, describing it as a blatant violation of the country’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political independence.
Egypt has repeatedly condemned any threats to Lebanon’s security and stability.
“Cairo stands with Lebanon at this critical moment,” President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi stressed to Lebanon’s Prime Minister Najib Mikati in a phone call Saturday.
Moreover, Egypt has condemned the recent Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon, warning that these actions could push the region into a full-scale war.
Concerns are growing over the potential of a wider conflict after Israel’s airstrikes o
n Saturday, which killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, in Beirut’s southern suburbs.
“There is frustration and anger in the Arabic street, the Egyptian street, and many countries around the world due to the policy of double standards, the failure to apply international law, and the existence of a state above the law that enjoys immunity and impunity,” Abdelatty said in an interview with the UN News radio conducted after the statement.
“This is unacceptable and should not be tolerated,” Egypt’s top diplomat emphasized.
“Unfortunately, we observe inaction from the international community, a lack of serious action, and no intervention from the international system or key regional and international parties to prevent a full-scale confrontation. This puts international peace and security at serious risk,” Abdelatty clarified.
The UN role
Abdelatty also emphasized Cairo’s commitment to enhancing the UN’s role in addressing the underlying issues of the conflicts surrounding Egypt’s borders.
‘This can only
be achieved by maintaining the unity of the national state and its territorial integrity, supporting its institutions, and ensuring national ownership of solutions without external interference,’ he stated.
He added that this approach is central to Egypt’s strategy in all regional crises in Libya, Syria, Sudan, and Somalia.
Abdelatty further underscored the importance of supporting a comprehensive political process to address the Sudanese crisis, emphasizing respect for Sudan’s sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity.
In addition, he called for unified international efforts to implement the new African peacekeeping mission in Somalia, aligning with the vision of the Somali people and government to ensure security and stability.
He also condemned any unilateral actions that threaten Somalia’s unity and sovereignty over its territories.
Egypt, which hosts more than 10 million refugees, will continue to fulfil its humanitarian responsibilities in response to the ongoing regional crises. However, “ther
e are limits to the burdens Egypt can bear,’ Abdelatty stressed.
He further noted that the international community is responsible for bridging funding gaps and mobilizing the resources necessary for humanitarian operations and refugees from conflict-affected countries.
Egypt water rights
In his statement before the UNGA, Abdelatty said Egypt will keep a ‘close watch’ on Ethiopia’s filling and operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). It reserves all rights under the United Nations Charter to take necessary actions to protect its interests.
Egypt and Ethiopia have been in a longstanding dispute over the filling and operation of the GERD, with Addis Ababa refusing to sign any legally binding agreement that would protect Egypt’s water rights and needs.
?Addis Ababa has unilaterally completed four out of five phases of filling the disputed dam and put two turbines into operation, without any agreement with the downstream countries, Egypt and Sudan.
Egypt’s top diplomat also indicated that Cai
ro has been involved in negotiations for 13 years without success, stressing Ethiopia’s ongoing unilateral actions that violate international law.
He said it has violated the 2015 Declaration of Principles signed by Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia and the 2021 UNSC presidential statement, which resulted in the suspension of negotiations in December 2023.
Cairo has previously registered its objections with the UN Security Council concerning Ethiopia’s unilateral filling of the GERD in the absence of a legally binding agreement.
‘We have sought and continue to attract international investments for development projects for the Nile Basin countries, but Ethiopia has insisted on imposing a fait accompli by constructing and operating the dam in violation of international law,’ disregarding the repercussions on the lives of millions in the downstream countries, he said during the UN meeting.
‘Anyone who believes that Egypt will turn a blind eye or tolerate a serious threat to its survival is mistaken,’ Abdelatty affi
rmed.
Source: State Information Service Egypt
