Spotlight on Egypt to help mediate with Hamas
Egypt is stepping up efforts to reach an agreement to stop the escalation and violent fighting between the Palestinian factions and Israel, amid ongoing international calls for a cease-fire.
CAIRO — Egypt is stepping up efforts to reach an agreement for de-escalation and quelling the violence between Palestinian factions and Israel, amid ongoing international calls for a cease-fire.
An Egyptian official and a Hamas official told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity that Cairo is continuing its daily calls with the fighting parties, in an attempt to reach some form of cease-fire — but no such breakthrough has been made yet.
On May 16, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said that his country will spare no effort to reach an Israeli-Palestinian cease-fire. Speaking via video call before the UN Security Council, Shoukry stressed the need for an immediate cease-fire in the Palestinian territories.
Israel continues to wage its fiercest air raids on the Gaza Strip since the outbreak of the current round of violence on May 10. Meanwhile, Palestinian militants continue to launch rockets on Israeli territories.
