CAIRO, Aug 27 (NNN-MENA) – Egypt and Spain warned, yesterday, of the serious risks of escalating Israeli military operations in the occupied Palestinian territories.
During a phone call, Egyptian Foreign Minister, Badr Abdelatty and his Spanish counterpart, Jose Manuel Albares, cautioned that, the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip has deteriorated to an “unprecedented level,” according to a statement by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry.
The top Egyptian diplomat said, the “crimes committed by Israel” have crossed all boundaries and called for the European Union (EU) to take specific and effective measures, to compel Israel to adhere to international law and norms.
He also outlined the details of a proposed ceasefire deal in Gaza, which includes a 60-day ceasefire, to allow for negotiations on a comprehensive settlement of the war, the release of a number of hostages and prisoners, and the delivery of humanitarian and relief aid.
The “ball is now in Israel’s court,” Abdelatty stressed.
For his part, the Spanish foreign minister said, he was keen to hear Egypt’s perspective on the developments in Gaza, particularly ahead of an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers, scheduled for the end of the month in Denmark.
Over the past 22 months, Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has killed 62,819 Palestinians, and injured 158,629 others, while causing massive destruction to infrastructure and worsening humanitarian conditions, Gaza’s health authorities said in an update yesterday.
Also yesterday, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that, the Israeli military’s raid on shops and money exchange companies in central Ramallah, West Bank earlier in the day, which Palestinian sources reported injured 20 people, including a 12-year-old boy and two pregnant women, was a “dangerous escalation” of ongoing Israeli violations in the occupied Palestinian territories.
The “aggressive and extremist policies” of the Israeli regime are the primary cause of regional instability in the region, it said, condemning Israel’s provocative actions and obstruction of all peace opportunities.– NNN-MENA
