Egypt Daily News – Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Atti voiced strong concerns on Wednesday regarding the differing positions among European countries on the ongoing conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon.
He argued that such divisions convey harmful messages to Israel and the broader region, emphasizing that it is “unacceptable” for these disagreements to persist.
During a press conference in Cairo alongside Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares, Abdel Atti called for immediate international action to halt what he described as Israeli aggression in Gaza.
He urged for an immediate ceasefire in both Gaza and Lebanon, condemning the displacement of Palestinians from the West Bank.
Additionally, he criticized any attacks on UNIFIL forces in southern Lebanon, advocating for the implementation of UN Resolution 1701, which seeks to bolster the Lebanese national army’s presence in the south. He stressed the need for a consensual presidential selection in Lebanon, free from foreign interference.
Spanish Foreign Minister Albares echoed the call for a ceasefire in Lebanon and underscored the importance of protecting UNIFIL personnel.
Currently, European countries contribute approximately 3,600 soldiers to the UN peacekeeping force, which totals around 10,000 forces in Lebanon.
According to Reuters, a video conference among contributing EU countries is planned for later in the day to discuss their positions and future contributions to the mission.
In response to the situation, Israel has maintained that its military does not intentionally target UNIFIL and asserts that Hezbollah has been using the presence of peacekeeping forces to stage attacks, claiming that Israel reserves the right to defend itself.
