The Egyptian Foreign Minister, Sameh Shoukri, called for a shift toward a political solution to the Palestinian cause to prevent further violence and extremism in the Middle East. He attributed recent regional disturbances to Israeli actions, describing them as provocations that have sparked serious unrest across the area. Speaking at a ministerial gathering in Riyadh with his counterparts from the Gulf Cooperation Council, Shoukri did not directly reference the ongoing talks hosted by Egypt for a new ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Yet he underscored that a military approach would only yield more destruction, violence, and extremism for the region.
He stressed that lasting peace and stability depend on a credible political track capable of delivering a viable Palestinian state alongside Israel, based on the June 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital. Addressing colleagues from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates, the Egyptian minister warned that Israeli aggression in Gaza has already sparked escalating disturbances that threaten to destabilize broader Middle East security.
The remarks come as regional actors seek to balance security concerns with prospects for a negotiated settlement. The call for a political settlement reflects longstanding international insistence that security, sovereignty, and statehood for Palestinians must co-exist with Israel’s security concerns. By framing the issue around a two-state solution anchored to recognized borders and a capital, Cairo aims to anchor regional diplomacy in a framework that many international partners have endorsed, even as immediate ceasefire efforts remain complex and fragile. The emphasis on Gaza’s humanitarian and political dimensions signals a desire to prevent further cycles of violence that could entrench extremism and obstruct future reconciliation efforts across the region. (Source: Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs)