Abdel Ati explained, in an exclusive interview with Sky News Arabia from New York on Saturday, that Cairo warned of the intention to escalate and drag the region into a regional war that would harm stability.
He stressed that “the Egyptian position is clear, which is to work to avoid… Lebanon And its brotherly people, the scourge of the unjustified and completely condemned escalation, and condemning any action whatsoever that would violate Lebanese sovereignty, and harm the unity of Lebanon and the integrity of its political system.”
He considered that “any violations that occur, the targeting of civilians, the killing of innocents, and the repeated bombing of the southern suburbs of Beirut and southern Lebanon are completely condemnable and a blatant and clear violation of international law.”
He said: “We live under an international system, and there are rules and principles that must be respected that confirm that violating the sovereignty of states is completely rejected and condemned. What is happening is a blatant violation of international law and an infringement on the sovereignty of a sister Arab country and does not achieve stability in the region.”
The Minister affirmed that “Egypt A major country in the region. Our first and last concern is maintaining the stability of the troubled region.”
Consultations with the Americans
In the same context, Abdel Ati said that he held several meetings with American officials on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, to discuss the escalating conflict in the Middle East.
He added: “I met with the US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken More than once, and a few days ago, I received him in Cairo, and our message to him was the same, which was to warn of the dangers of escalation.”
He continued: “We informed the American side more than once that there is an intention to escalate, and this harms the security and stability of the region and leads it to the brink of abyss and does not serve American or Egyptian interests or the interests of the peoples and countries of the region.”
The Egyptian Foreign Minister said that he informed his American counterpart of “the necessity of clear and decisive intervention to curb these attacks and reckless and irresponsible behavior.”
He continued: “We are in constant communication and dialogue with them (the Americans) to achieve the common goal, which is to reduce the intensity of escalation in the region and prevent it from sliding into a comprehensive regional war.”
The basis of the Gaza war
Abdel-Ati also confirmed that Egypt’s efforts to stop Gaza war It has been going on for about a year and “it has not and will not stop.”
He said: “We are keen to stop Palestinian bloodshed, and to quickly reach an immediate ceasefire that spares innocent civilians in the Gaza Strip from the scourge of brutal, destructive war of aggression, and allows the full flow of humanitarian and medical aid to the residents of the Strip.”
He added: “We must use all available means to reach an immediate ceasefire. We are in contact with the American side and our brothers in Qatar,” referring to the mediators seeking to reach an agreement to end the war.
Abdel Ati explained: “If we are serious about preventing escalation in the region, we must address the root of the problem, which is the aggression in the Gaza Strip.”
He stated, “If we succeed in achieving a ceasefire in Gaza, there will certainly be no justification for escalation in southern Lebanon, inside Lebanon, or in the region.” Red Sea“.
