Egypt’s diplomatic efforts secures ceasefire in Gaza

CAIRO – 20 May 2021: Cairo succeeded, Thursday to secure ceasefire in Gaza. The mutually-agreed suspension of fire will come into force at 2 a.m. Palestine local time on May 21.

Two Egyptian security delegations will be dispatched to Tel Aviv and Palestinian territories to follow up the with the ceasefire implementation and maintain the stability of the situation inside the strip.

Regional and international parties welcomed the ceasefire that was reached as a result of the Egyption efforts exerted during the past period.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry on Wednesday said In statements to CNN that Egypt is working to reach a ceasefire in the Palestinian territories to avert more escalation of conflict there.

The Egyptian foreign minister added that Egypt is contacting all parties concerned to discuss the current situation in the territories.

Shoukry pointed out that he contacted his Israeli and US counterparts Gabi Ashkenazi and Antony Blinken along with European foreign ministers over the situation in the Palestinian territories.

Egypt is consulting closely with the Israeli side, Palestinian Authority and Hamas regarding the crisis, he said.

Egypt has taken political and diplomatic steps to encourage ceasefire, condemn the Israeli aggression, and support the Palestinian’s legitimate rights.

Since May 7, Israeli forces in the West Bank and Jerusalem have been engaged in clashes with civilians who were protesting forced displacement, particularly from Sheikh Jarrah eastern Jerusalem, and assaults on worshippers in Al Aqsa Mosque. And, since May 10, Israel has been shelling and carrying out airstrikes against Gaza Strip. The aggression has thus far incurred 236 deaths and 6,278 injuries, as reported by the Palestinian News and Information Agency (WAFA).

The strikes also caused the destruction of more than 200 residential units in Gaza Strip and 31 educational establishments, including schools, colleges, and vocational training centers. According to the United Nations, 40,000 Palestinians got displaced – mainly from the North to the South – while 2,500 lost their homes.