According to two senior Egyptian security sources, Egyptian authorities have been closely involved in diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation of confrontations between Israel and Hamas.
The primary objective of these efforts is to ensure the safety of Israelis taken hostage by Palestinian militants and to restore stability to the region.
Despite the challenging circumstances posed by successive Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip, Egypt has been actively working to mediate between the conflicting parties. The Egyptian government has urged Israel to exercise restraint in its military actions and Hamas to ensure the well-being of the captives, thereby leaving the door open for a potential de-escalation in the near future.
The sources, who chose to remain anonymous, emphasized the importance of maintaining communication channels and seeking peaceful resolutions to the ongoing crisis.
The recent escalation began when Palestinian fighters, operating under the banner of Hamas, launched an attack from the Gaza Strip on Saturday, taking numerous hostages, including both Israeli soldiers and civilians, including children and the elderly. Another Palestinian militant group, Islamic Jihad, claimed responsibility for holding more than 30 of these captives.
In response to the hostilities, Israeli forces have unleashed a barrage of airstrikes, artillery, and helicopter attacks on the Gaza Strip, aiming to dislodge the Palestinian fighters who had crossed over from Gaza.
Given Egypt’s strategic geographical position, with the Sinai Peninsula sharing borders with both the Gaza Strip and Israel, Cairo has frequently acted as a mediator in past conflicts between these two parties.
Meanwhile, amid the ongoing tensions, approximately 7,000 Israeli tourists have returned from the Sinai Peninsula to Israel. The Egyptian Red Crescent has also facilitated the transfer of essential medical supplies from Sinai into Gaza through the Rafah crossing.
Tragically, on Sunday, two Israeli tourists and an Egyptian guide were fatally shot at an archaeological site in the northern Egyptian city of Alexandria. The Egyptian policeman allegedly responsible for the shooting has been referred to a military court, as confirmed by one of the security sources.
EgyptAir flights between Cairo and Tel Aviv have been indefinitely suspended. However, flights from South Sinai’s Sharm el-Sheikh to Tel Aviv continue to operate, allowing Israeli tourists to return home, as reported by Egyptian airport sources.
The situation remains tense, with the international community closely monitoring developments and hoping for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing crisis.