Egypt’s president warned that Israeli military operations in the Palestinian territories and Lebanon are pushing the region to the brink and called for international action.
Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, one of the mediators between Israel and Hamas, called for “an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire” in both Gaza and Lebanon amid an unprecedented escalation between Israel and Hezbollah.
His remarks came after Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Friday.
His comments came in a phone call late Saturday with Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, according to a statement from the Egyptian president’s office. He also gave orders to send medical and humanitarian aid to Lebanon immediately.
Along with the United States and Qatar, Egypt has for months spearheaded negotiations between Israel and Hamas to end the war in Gaza.
But negotiations have repeatedly stalled amid mounting fear of an all-out war between Israel and Hezbollah, an ally of Hamas. Diplomats see a ceasefire in Gaza as the best way to avert a regional war.
