Egypt’s President Expresses Disapproval of Israel’s Actions in Gaza as U.S. Secretary of State Continues Middle Eastern Diplomacy

On Sunday, the President of Egypt rebuked Israel for its military operations in the Gaza Strip, offering a pointed counter to the United States. This came as the U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, was engaged in diplomatic meetings throughout the Middle East, aiming to avert the escalation of the conflict between Israel and Hamas into a more extensive regional issue.

With the prospect of an Israeli ground invasion in Gaza increasing, Blinken stated unambiguously that the U.S. would steadfastly support Israel in its “present, future, and continual” endeavors, grounded in their mutual democratic principles. However, he insisted that Israel must exercise the utmost care to minimize civilian casualties. He refrained from directly criticizing Israel or its airstrike campaign, which has resulted in civilian deaths in Gaza.

Speaking from Cairo, where Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi voiced his concerns, Blinken then proceeded to Jordan. He is scheduled to return to Israel on Monday to convey the insights he gathered from rapid consultations with regional leaders.

His impending second visit to Israel unfolds amid increasing apprehensions that an Israeli incursion into Gaza could ignite a larger conflict with severe humanitarian ramifications. This situation is becoming a focal point for the Biden administration.

Egypt’s state-controlled media reported that el-Sissi told Blinken Israel’s actions in Gaza had surpassed “the right of self-defense,” and had become “a form of collective punishment.”

Before departing from Egypt, Blinken acknowledged Israel’s “right and responsibility” to defend itself from Hamas attacks but emphasized the manner in which Israel conducted this defense was crucial. Blinken highlighted that actions must be in alignment with “the shared values we hold regarding human life and dignity, taking all possible steps to prevent civilian harm.”

Earlier on Sunday, the U.S. diplomat held talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh. These discussions expanded on previous consultations with the heads of the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, and the Palestinian Authority.

According to Blinken, the common theme in his dialogues with Arab leaders was an unwavering commitment to averting the spread of conflict, safeguarding innocent lives, and delivering aid to the Palestinians in Gaza.

The White House announced the appointment of David Satterfield, a former U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon and Turkey, to spearhead American humanitarian assistance efforts in the Middle East. Satterfield is expected to arrive in Israel on Monday.

Meanwhile, from the U.S. capital, Jake Sullivan, President Joe Biden’s National Security Adviser, declared that the U.S. was neither dictating nor demanding specific military actions from Israel. He emphasized that the United States adhered to fundamental principles that respected civilian life.

Sullivan indicated a change in tone from the U.S. administration, which had increasingly heard from Arab leaders about the potential humanitarian and political fallout of an Israeli ground invasion in Gaza.

He also acknowledged difficulties in facilitating the exit of American citizens from Gaza via Egypt’s Rafah crossing, which had been closed due to early war airstrikes.

U.S. authorities noted that the general Arab response to Blinken’s messages has been largely positive, although there was intense concern about the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the Palestinian civilian casualties.

Blinken, while in Egypt, reaffirmed that U.S. support for Israel would remain steadfast, emphasizing, “We stand with Israel today, tomorrow, and every day, both in word and deed.”

During his approximately hour-long meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed in Saudi Arabia, the two leaders “affirmed their mutual commitment to safeguarding civilians and promoting stability in the Middle East and beyond,” as per a State Department statement.

Saudi Arabia emphasized the importance of protecting Palestinian civilians and expressed its opposition to any actions that would “target civilians or disrupt infrastructure crucial for daily life,” according to a statement from the Saudi Press Agency.

Contributions to this report were made by Big Big News correspondents Sam Magdy in Cairo, Collen Long in Washington D.C., and Michelle L. Price in New York.

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More about U.S.-Middle East Diplomacy

• U.S. Department of State: Remarks by Secretary Blinken
• Egypt’s Official Response to the Gaza Conflict
• Saudi Arabia’s Position on Israel-Gaza Conflict
• Profile: U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan
• Humanitarian Concerns in Gaza
• History of Israel-Gaza Conflict
• Arab Leaders on Israel-Palestine Peace Process
• David Satterfield: Career and Appointments
• Overview of U.S.-Middle East Diplomacy