APA-Cairo (Egypt) Egypt is leading a global push for a humanitarian ceasefire to provide reprieve for hundreds of thousands of civilians trapped in the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas militants in Gaza, APA has learnt.
The North African country shares a border with Gaza which remains closed to civilians desperate to flee three weeks of aerial bombardment by Israeli military jets pummeling militants who launched a deadly incursion into Israel on October 7th.
Over 7000 Palestinians have died since the Israel military responded to the attack with airstrikes, causing a major humanitarian crisis as desperate civilians flee Gaza.
Save a number of humanitarian aid Egypt’s Raffah Crossing with the Palestinian enclave remains closed to refugees.
In a telephone conversation aimed at garnering international support President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi told Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the situation for civilians in Gaza has worsened from desperate to catastrophic.
The two leaders exchanged views on the latest developments in the Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip and the gravity of the continuation of the current escalation, given its formidable impact on the lives of civilians and the threat it poses to the security of the entire region.
Presidential spokesman Ahmed Fahmy quoted President El-Sisi as saying Egypt is trying to coordinate regional and international efforts to push toward reaching a ceasefire.
The Egyptian leader warned of the grievous humanitarian and security repercussions of a ground offensive Israel is planning to unleash on the Gaza Strip and underscored the critical need for a unified international action to find a prompt solution at the diplomatic level.
This according to Sisi should include reinforcing an immediate humanitarian truce that protects the lives of civilians and allows the instantaneous, sustainable and unfettered delivery of relief aid to the battered Gaza strip, in accordance with a UN General Assembly resolution adopted on October 27.
Meanwhile there has been a chorus of condemnation against Israel’s ‘disproportionate’ response to Hamas’ October 7th incursion in which scores of civilians including toddlers were reportedly killed by the rampaging militants.
WN/as/APA