Sameh Shoukry, the Egyptian Foreign Minister, stated on Sunday that there is a need to achieve a ceasefire and exchange of detainees in Gaza in order to contain the crisis and its ramifications and prevent its expansion in the region.
During a press conference with his Slovenian counterpart, Tanja Fajon, in Cairo, Shoukry emphasized that the peace treaty with Israel “has been Egypt’s strategic choice for 40 years and a main pillar of peace in the region.” He added that “the peace treaty with Israel has its own mechanisms that are activated to address any violations and deal with them if found.” Shoukry confirmed that there are moderate proposals that serve the purpose for Israel and “Hamas,” which must be agreed upon to reach a truce and exchange of detainees. The Egyptian Foreign Minister called on everyone to “be flexible in negotiations to achieve a ceasefire, as the humanitarian situation cannot endure.”
Additionally, a senior Egyptian official, who requested anonymity, told the Associated Press that Cairo has lodged protests against Israel to the United States and European governments, warning that the Israeli military operation in Rafah “puts the peace treaty at risk.”
The peace treaty between Egypt and Israel, signed on March 26, 1979, marked a historic milestone as it was the first such agreement between Israel and an Arab country. Brokered by U.S. President Jimmy Carter at Camp David, the treaty followed the Camp David Accords of 1978, which laid the groundwork for the peace process. Key figures in these negotiations were Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin, both of whom received the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts.
The treaty effectively ended the state of war between Egypt and Israel that had persisted since 1948. It mandated the withdrawal of Israeli armed forces and civilians from the Sinai Peninsula, which was to be returned to Egyptian sovereignty. In return, Egypt agreed to recognize Israel as a sovereign state, which was a significant step given the context of the broader Arab-Israeli conflict.
