Egypt Engages UAE, Saudi Arabia and Turkey in Diplomatic Efforts To Address Regional Crises

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty engaged in phone conversations with his counterparts from the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey to discuss regional tensions, including the crises in Sudan and Gaza, according to a statement from Egypt’s Foreign Ministry on Wednesday.

The talks, held separately with UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, aimed to coordinate efforts to prevent the situation in the region from worsening. Discussions centered around mediating ceasefires between warring parties in both Sudan and Gaza.

The ministers also touched on developments in the Horn of Africa, a region facing its own challenges. These conversations come as tension between Israel and Lebanon grows, particularly after an Israeli raid on July 30 killed Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr and seven civilians in southern Beirut. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah vowed to retaliate.

Additionally, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in Tehran shortly after, with both Hamas and Iran blaming Israel, though Israel has not commented on the incident.

Since October 7, the conflict has resulted in nearly 40,000 Palestinian deaths according to health authorities in the Gaza Strip; more than 1,660 Israeli deaths according to Israeli authorities; nearly 800 deaths in Lebanon and Syria; and more than 600 Palestinian deaths in the West Bank. The war has caused widespread destruction in the densely populated Palestinian coastal enclave, home to approximately 2 million people, and in Israeli towns and villages near the Gaza border, as well as on both sides of the Israel-Lebanon border.