Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Aaty has strongly criticized Israel’s demands for a ceasefire in Gaza, describing them as “unrealistic, excessive, and impossible to accept.” His remarks come amid a renewed push for diplomatic solutions to the escalating humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian enclave.
Speaking in a televised interview with Egypt’s Extra News, Abdel Aaty provided insights into a recent round of discussions with Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. The meeting, he said, emphasized the importance of maintaining “intensive consultation” between Cairo and Doha on regional matters chief among them, the ongoing war in Gaza.
“The Egyptian-Qatari efforts are currently the most significant in the region,” Abdel Aaty noted, pointing specifically to joint mediation aimed at halting the bloodshed, ending widespread famine in Gaza, and securing an immediate ceasefire.
According to the minister, both Egypt and Qatar have thrown their support behind a ceasefire framework proposed by U.S. envoy Steve Wietkov, a plan that Hamas has already agreed to in principle. Abdel Aaty placed the onus for delays squarely on the Israeli side, stating: “There are no alternative plans on the table. Israel must accept this initiative.”
He went further to characterize the Israeli conditions for ending hostilities as “deliberately obstructive,” accusing Tel Aviv of prolonging the conflict through maximalist demands that render negotiations unworkable.
When asked about reports suggesting Israel is considering relocating the venue of ongoing negotiations, as well as the country’s delayed response to the proposed ceasefire agreement, Abdel Aaty dismissed what he called “media leaks and trial balloons” as unreliable sources of information. “We do not base our positions on unverified speculation,” he said.
As of now, the Egyptian minister confirmed, no clear or definitive response has been received from Israel regarding the proposed deal. “We are still waiting for an official and unambiguous answer,” he concluded.
The stalemate underscores the growing frustration among mediators, as the humanitarian toll in Gaza continues to mount and diplomatic efforts remain mired in political gridlock.
