Egypt and Japan have stressed the need to prevent further escalation in the Middle East, following recent escalation on the Lebanese-Israeli front. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty met with his Japanese counterpart, Yoko Kamikawa, at her request, on the sidelines of the TICAD Ministerial Meeting in Tokyo. The meeting was prompted by the recent escalation on the Lebanese front, which saw Israel launch what it called pre-emptive strikes in Lebanon ahead of an attack by Hezbollah, which launched hundreds of rockets and drones at Israel early Sunday. Spokesperson for the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Ahmed Abu Zeid, stated that both Ministers agreed on the imperative of preventing further escalation in the region and intensifying efforts, in collaboration with international and regional partners, to avert a regional war that threatens the security and stability of the region's people. The Ministers also emphasised the importance of continuing efforts to achieve an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, the release of hostages and detainees, and the unconditional provision of humanitarian and medical aid to the residents of Gaza. This, they stressed, is crucial to ending the catastrophic humanitarian suffering endured by the Palestinian people for months. Ambassador Abu Zeid added that the Japanese Foreign Minister's eagerness to meet with the Egyptian Minister for the second time during his stay in Tokyo to discuss the latest developments in the Middle East reflects Japan's keen interest in consulting and coordinating with Egypt, which has played a significant role since the crisis began in preventing further escalation in the Middle East. It also underscores Japan's commitment to halting the escalation in the region and establishing peace.
