By: Mohamed Abdel-Azim Al-Shimi
The Egyptian state, led by President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, was able to extract international positions to prevent the liquidation of the Palestinian Cause and the expansion of the current conflict to other regions.
It has pushed the international parties to cooperate in mobilizing global efforts in order to advance the process of reviving the peace process, with the aim of implementing the two-state solution, and establishing the Palestinian state in accordance with the decisions of international legitimacy.
This was evidenced in the shift in the American position in an affirmation of respect for Egypt’s sovereignty and its national security needs, and the commitment to ensure that the Palestinians are not displaced from Gaza to Egypt or any other country.
This shift reflected a recognition of Egypt's regional influence and its impactful role in the international and global arena in favor of supporting the Palestinian Cause.
Many analysts considered the Egyptian role to be a pivotal and central one in changing international positions on the current Gaza crisis, and in any attempt to resolve the conflict.
These analysts have recognized that Cairo has exerted painstaking political and humanitarian efforts during it to stop the bleeding of our brethren in Gaza and prevent the shedding of more innocent blood since the beginning of the Israeli aggression on Gaza on 7 October.
Cairo has called on the international community to work toward a ceasefire, standing strong as a barrier against the Israeli plot to displace the residents of the Gaza Strip and liquidate the Palestinian Cause.
Egyptian diplomacy played a major role at more than one level, whether presidential or official, in directing the attention of the international community towards the violence practiced by Israel against the Palestinian people, and pointing out that the current conflict has gone beyond the notion that we are faced with a state defending itself to a state that destroys an entire people in a process of genocide.
Since the start of the current conflict, Egyptian diplomacy has been working on several axes, whether international, regional, or humanitarian, to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinians, reach a permanent ceasefire, and initiate a political solution that guarantees the realization of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.
Indeed, Egypt has received the wounded from the brotherly people for treatment in Egyptian hospitals.
Egypt has also secured a safe crossing for people of dual nationality to leave Gaza for their country.
Egyptian diplomacy has been producing outcomes on multiple levels since the start of the conflict.
For example, the Cairo Summit for Peace represented a prominent milestone in the role played by the Egyptian diplomacy to contain the conflict immediately after its start.
Egypt also played an important role in the work of the United Nations General Assembly to issue a resolution for an immediate humanitarian truce and ceasefire.
In addition, Cairo has mobilized the Arab position to support the Palestinian Cause, pushing forward humanitarian and relief aid efforts – on the governmental and civil society organizations levels - to meet for the daily needs of the Palestinian people.
These moves confirm that Egypt stands squarely behind the Palestinian people who remain steadfast in the face of Israeli aggression.
They also confirm that Egypt will continue to work quickly and efficiently in order to protect the Palestinian people and stand up to all attempts to liquidate their cause.
All this reflects that Egyptian diplomacy can play a leading role in defending the Palestinian Cause out of its concern for the interests of the Palestinian people and Egyptian national security.
Since the beginning of the crisis and the emergence of the complete bias of some countries, including the United States and some European countries, in favor of the Israeli side, Egypt’s official diplomacy - represented by President El-Sisi, Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, and Egypt’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations - has worked to clarify the true picture of events to the world, including the fact that the massacres and crimes committed by Israel against the Palestinian people go beyond the right of self-defense and amount to war crimes and genocide.
Indeed, these Egyptian efforts resulted in a gradual shift in countries’ policies after they had been embarrassed before the international community, especially given that the Cairo Summit for Peace succeeded in making the world return to talking about the two-state solution, the necessity of protecting civilians, and, lastly, the urgency for the entry of aid to the Palestinian people.
This was rendered possible after the Egyptian House of Representatives and the Senate held emergency sessions to support the brethren in Gaza.
It was also made possible by and demonstrations by the Arab peoples and peoples around the world in favor of the Palestinian people.
All this indicated that Egypt has succeeded in mobilizing international and regional public opinion towards changing its positions in favor of the Palestinian people.
It is worth noting that Egypt has succeeded in changing the view of some countries as far as opposition to any forced displacement and agreement on the necessity of heeding the fulfillment of the rights of the Palestinian people in accordance with international legitimacy.
Likewise, Egypt can preserve its own national capabilities, whether through diplomatic or military tools, in light of popular support for the political leadership in its management of the conflict.
The rationality and strategic patience that characterize the Egyptian administration must not be tested in order to avoid any clear threat to security and peace in the region.
Thu, Jan. 4, 2024
