Egypt's Sisi calls for Gaza, Lebanon ceasefire as Israeli violence escalates

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has issued an urgent call for an immediate ceasefire in the escalating conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon, urging stronger international efforts to halt the violence and facilitate the exchange of hostages in Gaza.

The statement came during a high-level meeting on Saturday in Cairo with a bipartisan delegation from the US House of Representatives, led by Congressman Tom Cole, chair of the Appropriations Committee.

During the talks, al-Sisi emphasized the critical importance of restoring peace and stability in the region, warning that if the violence continues unchecked, it could spiral into a broader regional war.

"Decisive action is needed to secure a ceasefire and initiate the exchange of hostages in Gaza," al-Sisi told the US delegation, stressing the urgency of these steps to prevent further escalation.

Central to his remarks was Egypt’s long-standing position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict: that the establishment of an independent Palestinian state is not only necessary for resolving the current violence but is also the key to long-term peace and security in the Middle East.

"The creation of a sovereign Palestinian state is essential to defusing regional tensions and advancing towards a sustainable peace," the Egyptian leader stated, reaffirming Egypt’s support for a two-state solution.

Egypt, alongside Qatar and the US, has been heavily involved in indirect negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas for several months, but no substantial agreement has been reached.

The talks have been hampered by Israel’s refusal to end its military offensive in Gaza, withdraw its forces, and allow the return of displaced Palestinians to northern Gaza.

Despite these diplomatic efforts, Israeli operations in Gaza have continued to intensify since October 2023.

In addition to the Gaza conflict, cross-border fighting between Israeli forces and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon has escalated significantly in recent weeks.

Late last month, Israel carried out extensive airstrikes and a ground invasion in Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah commanders, including the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

The violence has led to more than 1,500 deaths and displaced approximately 1.3 million people in Lebanon alone.

Meanwhile, the situation in Gaza remains dire, with over 42,500 Palestinians killed since the war began.

The latest Israeli operations have focused on northern Gaza, where airstrikes and ground invasions have decimated infrastructure, leading to widespread humanitarian suffering.

Earlier this week, Israeli forces claimed to have killed Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas leader who took charge following the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in July.

Despite the heavy toll, efforts to secure a ceasefire have been stymied by Israel's continued military objectives. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made it clear that any agreement would allow Israel to continue its military operations until all of its war goals are achieved.

This hardline stance has drawn sharp criticism from the international community, as well as from regional powers like Egypt, which have been pushing for an immediate cessation of hostilities.

Egypt has long been a key mediator in the region, and al-Sisi’s call for a ceasefire reflects growing concerns about the humanitarian disaster unfolding in both Gaza and Lebanon.

In recent weeks, Egypt has intensified its diplomatic outreach, hosting meetings with US and Israeli officials to explore potential ceasefire agreements.

However, the Egyptian presidency reported that the talks have faced significant obstacles, particularly due to Israel’s reluctance to commit to halting its military invasion.

The ongoing conflict has also sparked protests across Europe, with demonstrators in cities like Stockholm, Paris, and Berlin rallying against Israel’s invasions and calling for an immediate ceasefire.

As the death toll continues to rise, public pressure on European governments and international organizations to take more decisive action is mounting.

Humanitarian agencies have warned of a growing crisis, with millions of civilians in both Gaza and Lebanon facing severe shortages of food, water, and medical supplies.

The violence in Gaza and Lebanon also has wider geopolitical implications, as it risks destabilizing the broader Middle East. I

nternational leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, have called for the reactivation of the Middle East Quartet—a group that includes the United Nations, the US, the European Union, and Russia—to mediate peace talks between Israel and Palestine.

Putin reiterated Russia’s long-standing position that the only solution to the Palestinian problem is the establishment of a fully-fledged Palestinian state.

Egypt’s involvement in ceasefire negotiations is part of a broader strategy to prevent the conflict from spreading further across the region.

In his meeting with US officials, al-Sisi highlighted the need for a concerted international effort to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza and alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people.

Despite these efforts, however, the path to a sustainable ceasefire remains fraught with challenges, as both Israel and Palestinian groups remain entrenched in their positions.

The urgency of Egypt’s call for a ceasefire reflects the growing toll that the war is taking on civilians in both Gaza and Lebanon.

As the conflict drags on, the need for a political solution that addresses the root causes of the violence, including the question of Palestinian statehood, becomes ever more critical.

For now, however, the immediate focus remains on halting the bloodshed and securing a ceasefire that can pave the way for more substantive negotiations.