Egypt’s Shoukry, EU Commission’s Timmermans Hold Talks in Preparation for COP27 Summit

Sameh Shoukry during his meeting with the Vice-President of the European Union Commission (Egypt’s Foreign Ministry)
Sameh Shoukry during his meeting with the Vice-President of the European Union Commission (Egypt’s Foreign Ministry)
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Egypt’s Shoukry, EU Commission’s Timmermans Hold Talks in Preparation for COP27 Summit

Sameh Shoukry during his meeting with the Vice-President of the European Union Commission (Egypt’s Foreign Ministry)
Sameh Shoukry during his meeting with the Vice-President of the European Union Commission (Egypt’s Foreign Ministry)

Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry held talks with the Executive Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for the European Green Deal and Climate Change Negotiations, Frans Timmermans, in Cairo on Sunday.

According to a Foreign Ministry statement, Cairo is keen to consult with all parties concerned with international climate action.

The meeting came in light of Cairo’s preparations for the COP27 Climate Summit, which will be held in Sharm el-Sheikh Red Sea Resort in late 2022.

Timmermans is scheduled to meet during his two-day visit to Egypt with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mohammed Shaker, Minister of Environment Yasmin Fouad Abdelaziz, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Tarek al-Mulla and Minister of Planning and Economic Development Hala al-Saeed.

The EU climate policy chief will bring up the Mediterranean Green Hydrogen Partnership to enhance communication on topics of mutual interest, such as the transition to clean energy, energy efficiency, green growth models, energy diversification, sustainable finance, carbon markets and adaptation.

Madbouly, for his part, held a meeting on Sunday to follow up on the efforts to address problems facing tourist investors in Sharm el-Sheikh and ensure they complete the implementation of their projects in the hotel sector.

The meeting was attended by Dr. Khaled al-Anany, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Dr. Assem al-Gazzar, Minister of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities, Major General Khaled Fouda, Governor of South Sinai, Seraj al-Din Saad, Assistant Minister of Housing for the General Authority for Tourism Development, and officials from various relevant authorities.



Netanyahu Offers Hamas Leaders Gaza Exit but Demands Group Disarm

A general view shows tents housing displaced Palestinians during Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, in Gaza City on March 30, 2025. (Photo by Omar AL-QATTAA / AFP)
A general view shows tents housing displaced Palestinians during Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, in Gaza City on March 30, 2025. (Photo by Omar AL-QATTAA / AFP)
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Netanyahu Offers Hamas Leaders Gaza Exit but Demands Group Disarm

A general view shows tents housing displaced Palestinians during Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, in Gaza City on March 30, 2025. (Photo by Omar AL-QATTAA / AFP)
A general view shows tents housing displaced Palestinians during Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, in Gaza City on March 30, 2025. (Photo by Omar AL-QATTAA / AFP)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday offered to let Hamas leaders leave Gaza but demanded the group abandon its arms, as his country kept up its bombardment of the Palestinian territory.

Gaza's civil defense agency said an Israeli air strike on a house and tent sheltering displaced Palestinians killed at least eight people, including five children.

The strike in Khan Yunis came in the morning on the first day of Eid al-Fitr, the festival marking the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.

Israel resumed intense bombing of the Palestinian territory on March 18 and then launched a new ground offensive, ending a nearly two-month ceasefire in the war with Hamas.

Netanyahu rejected criticism that his government was not engaging in negotiations aimed at releasing hostages held in Gaza, insisting the renewed military pressure on Hamas was proving effective.

"We are negotiating under fire... We can see cracks beginning to appear" in Hamas's positions, the Israeli leader told a cabinet meeting.

In the "final stage", Netanyahu said that "Hamas will lay down its weapons. Its leaders will be allowed to leave".

"The military pressure is working," Reuters quoted him as saying.

"The combination of military pressure and diplomatic pressure is the only thing that has brought the hostages back."

Hamas has expressed a willingness to relinquish Gaza's administration, but has warned its weapons are a "red line".

Egypt, Qatar and the United States are attempting to again broker a ceasefire and secure the release of Israeli hostages still held in Gaza.

A senior Hamas official stated on Saturday that the group had approved a new ceasefire proposal put forward by mediators and urged Israel to support it.

Netanyahu's office confirmed receipt of the proposal and stated that Israel had submitted a counterproposal in response.

However, the details of the latest mediation efforts remain undisclosed.