Egypt rejects Israeli presence on Gaza corridor amid mediation efforts to reach cease-fire

By Rania Abu Shamala

ISTANBUL (AA) - Egypt affirmed its rejection on Wednesday of any Israeli military presence in the Philadelphi Corridor on the border with Gaza amid ongoing mediation efforts to reach a cease-fire deal in the Palestinian enclave.

Speaking at a joint press conference in Cairo with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said they discussed “the urgent need for a cease-fire in Gaza and the necessity of quickly reaching an agreement.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists on maintaining a military presence at the Philadelphi Corridor on the Egypt-Gaza border, a position vehemently rejected by Cairo.

The top Egyptian diplomat warned of the dangers “slipping into a regional war.”

The warning came one day after at least 12 people were killed and nearly 2,800 others injured in pager explosions across Lebanon.

Commenting on the blasts, Abdelatty condemned “any escalation that threatens the stability and sovereignty of Lebanon.”

There was no comment from Israel on the pager blasts, but Hezbollah vowed to retaliate against Israel following the explosions.

The Egyptian minister said he also discussed with Blinken “the importance of reaching an agreement regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and ensuring that it does not harm Egypt, as well as the importance of supporting the unity of Somalia.”

Egypt sees the Ethiopian dam as an “existential threat” to its water share from the Nile River. Years of negotiations between the two sides have failed to make any breakthrough.