Egypt’s FM: Full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza Strip is a must

Paris – 2 October 2025:  Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration, and Egyptians Expatriates, Dr. Badr Abdelatty outlined the necessity of a full Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and the unhindered entry of humanitarian aid. He rejected any attempts to annex the West Bank or displace Palestinians from their land.

Abdelatty’s comments were stated dring his participation in a panel discussion organized by the French Institute of International Relations (IFRI) in Paris on Thursday, with the participation of the Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to France, Ambassador Alaa Youssef. 

The discussion addressed regional and international developments and their implications for global stability. It also touched on Egypt’s vision and guiding principles in relation to the rapidly evolving situations in the region.

Minister Abdelatty presented a comprehensive strategic vision outlining Egypt’s position on geopolitical dynamics in the region and related developments concerning regional and international security and stability. He emphasized the central importance of the Palestinian cause. He also reaffirmed Egypt’s longstanding principles in supporting the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, foremost among them the establishment of their independent state on the 4 June 1967 lines with East Jerusalem as its capital. This represents the only basis for achieving a just and comprehensive peace in the region.

In this context, Minister Abdelatty reviewed Egypt’s intensive efforts to achieve a ceasefire, to put an end to the brutal Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip, and to ensure the entry of humanitarian and medical aid into the Strip amid the worsening humanitarian catastrophe that has reached the level of famine. He further pointed out that Egypt welcomes US President Donald Trump's efforts to stop the war.

Minister Abdelatty rejected any attempts to annex the West Bank or displace Palestinians from their land. He also reiterated the call for the international community to shoulder its moral responsibility to exert pressure on Israel to ensure the unimpeded delivery of aid. Minister Abdelatty further briefed participants on the outcomes of the Arab Summit held last March in Cairo. It included the formation of a non-factional Palestinian administrative committee capable of managing the Gaza Strip on a temporary basis until the return of the Palestinian Authority. In this regard, Minister Abdelatty underlined Egypt’s commitment to training Palestinian security personnel to enable them to establish security control over the Gaza Strip, as part of Egypt’s support for the governance of the Strip.

Minister Abdelatty also addressed the situations in Sudan, Syria, Lebanon, and Libya. He reaffirmed Egypt’s continued efforts to support stability in Sudan, safeguard its security, sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity, and national institutions, and its active engagement in efforts. This support aimed to secure a ceasefire, achieve a humanitarian truce, and alleviate the suffering of the Sudanese people. He equally highlighted Egypt’s rejection of any measures undermining the security, safety, and stability of the Syrian people.

In addition, Minister Abdelatty reiterated Egypt’s rejection of Israel’s repeated violations of Syrian sovereignty. He outlined the need to halt Israeli aggressions on Lebanon, respect its sovereignty, and ensure Israel’s withdrawal from the five occupied Lebanese points in accordance with international legitimacy. Minister Abdelatty also emphasized the need to advance the political process in Libya in a manner that preserves Libyan ownership of the solution, leads to the holding of simultaneous presidential and parliamentary elections at the earliest opportunity, and ensures the withdrawal of all foreign forces and mercenaries, thereby achieving stability.

On the Iranian nuclear file, Minister Abdelatty emphasized that Egyptian diplomatic efforts contributed to the agreement signed in Cairo between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to resume technical cooperation between them. He underlined the importance of giving diplomacy the space to restore confidence and create an enabling environment for regional security and stability. He further noted that Egypt’s intensive efforts in recent months aimed to de-escalate tensions and pave the way for the resumption of negotiations between the two sides.

With regard to water security, Minister Abdelatty underlined the importance of cooperation in accordance with the principles of international law to safeguard the interests of all Nile Basin countries. He reiterated Egypt’s rejection of unilateral measures that contravene international law in the Eastern Nile Basin. He also stressed that Egypt will take all necessary measures, consistent with international law, to protect its water security.

Minister Abdelatty further reaffirmed Egypt’s full solidarity with Somalia and its continued support for efforts to achieve security and stability in the country. He noted the ongoing arrangements for the deployment of Egyptian forces within the framework of the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), thereby contributing to the establishment of peace and stability in Somalia.

An interactive discussion followed, during which participants outlined the importance of adopting comprehensive and sustainable approaches to resolving crises, based on respect for international law, support for peaceful political solutions, strengthening the role of national institutions, and upholding the sovereignty of states. These approaches aimed to achieve security, stability, and development for the peoples of the region as a whole. The discussions also emphasized the significance of working with regional and international partners to establish stability in the Middle East and enhance multilateral cooperation to address shared challenges.