Egypt said on Thursday it is following with deep concern Israel's plan to launch a military assault on cities in the Gaza Strip, describing it as an attempt to entrench what it called Israel's unlawful occupation of Palestinian land and a flagrant violation of international and humanitarian law. In a statement, the Foreign Ministry voiced strong condemnation of Israel's escalation, including its expansion of occupying Palestinian territories in the West Bank and in Gaza. It denounced what it called systematic crimes against civilians and ongoing efforts to displace Palestinians, warning that such policies fuel the crisis and disregard mediation efforts, ceasefire proposals, prisoner exchanges and international calls to end the war and ease the humanitarian suffering of Palestinians after nearly two years of conflict. Egypt warned that reliance on force and persistent violations of international law for narrow political interests represent a grave miscalculation, reflecting the weakness of the global justice system. It said this approach would intensify regional escalation and leave lasting repercussions on relations among regional peoples, as well as on regional and international peace and security. Cairo called on the international community to intervene urgently to stop Israel's war on Gaza and halt crimes against civilians. It also urged the UN Security Council to assume its responsibility in maintaining international peace and security to prevent further deterioration in the region and rising instability in the Middle East caused by what it described as Israel's unprecedented violations of international law. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English Subediting: M. S. Salama
