Foreign Minister Sameh Shokry asked his British counterpart, Philip Hammond, that the United Kingdom exercise efforts to convince all parties to join the Egyptian initiative for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip to stop the ongoing Israeli aggression.
“I hope we continue consultation for peace and stability to prevail in the Middle East,” he said at a news conference. “The Egyptian initiative is the only one and Israel as an occupying power should bear responsibility.”
“The Palestinian people must enjoy stability and normal living conditions,” he added, stressing that a cease-fire is pivotal in light of the increasing number of victims.
“Egypt seeks the protection of the Palestinian people from this unjustified escalation,” he said.
He said Egypt continues its efforts for a ceasefire and is holding talks with the various parties. “The US secretary of state is still in Cairo,” he said. “And there are reactions from France, Britain, Italy and Norway.”
Hammond urged Hamas to unconditionally accept a ceasefire, adding that the cause of the crisis is the rockets that Hamas fires on Israel. “Israel has the right to defend itself,” he said. “Yet its excessive use of force made the West and the rest of the against it.”
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
