Egypt's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, Badr Abdelatty, on Wednesday condemned Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, calling for a permanent ceasefire and international recognition of a Palestinian state to promote stability in the Middle East. Speaking at the Oslo Forum in Norway, the minister said Israel's obstruction of humanitarian aid to Gaza "constitutes a grave violation of international humanitarian law." Abdelatty condemned the "widespread destruction in the Gaza Strip in a deliberate effort to restrict the options of its residents and displace them, and to expand Israel's occupation of Palestinian lands." He pointed to an international consensus on the need to implement a two-state solution, reiterating Egypt's commitment to ending the war and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and ensuring unimpeded aid access. He reviewed Egypt's efforts to stop the violence and highlighted a plan for Gaza's reconstruction adopted at an Arab summit in Cairo on March 4, 2025. He added that Egypt intends to hold an international conference for early recovery and reconstruction as soon as hostilities cease. On the sidelines of the forum, Abdelatty held a trilateral meeting with his Omani counterpart, Badr Albusaidi, and his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi. During the meeting, the minister emphasised Egypt's priority to achieve de-escalation and prevent further conflict in the region, stressing there were no military solutions to regional crises. He also expressed Egypt's support for the negotiation process between the United States and Iran regarding the Iranian nuclear programme, referencing a June 2 meeting he held in Cairo with his Iranian counterpart and the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Abdelatty listened to his counterparts' assessment of the negotiations, praised Oman's mediation efforts and the commitment of both Washington and Tehran to continue diplomatic dialogue, and reiterated Egypt's support for initiatives aimed at reducing tensions and supporting regional stability. The minister participated in the opening session of the 2025 Oslo Forum, which focuses on mediation in international conflicts, and in a panel discussion titled "A Different Future for the Middle East."
