Israel-Palestine Escalation
Israel was hit by an unprecedented rocket attack from the Gaza Strip on October 7, with Hamas movement's troops infiltrating border areas. On October 8, the Israeli government announced that it had invoked Article 40 of the Basic Law, which means the country was officially in a state of war.

Egypt's President El-Sisi Urges International Community to Recognize Palestine as a State

© Sputnik . Alexei Danichev / Go to the mediabankPresident of the Arab Republic of Egypt Abdel Fattah El-Sisi during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin within the framework of the economic and humanitarian forum "Russia - Africa" on July 26, 2023.
President of the Arab Republic of Egypt Abdel Fattah El-Sisi during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin within the framework of the economic and humanitarian forum Russia - Africa on July 26, 2023.  - Sputnik Africa, 1920, 25.11.2023
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On Wednesday, Israel and the Palestinian movement Hamas that rules the Gaza Strip, reached the first large-scale agreement since the conflict escalated on October 7, with Qatar's mediation. The parties agreed to cease hostilities for four days in order to exchange dozens of hostages and detainees.
Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi urged the international community to recognize Palestine as a country. He made the announcement on Friday during a joint press conference with the prime ministers of Spain and Belgium in Cairo.
Furthermore, according to El-Sisi, reviving the process to end the conflict in the Middle East, "may not be what is required".

"The results of this path faltering for 30 years tells us that we must" adopt a different approach, he said.

An alternative strategy would entail "the recognition of the Palestinian state by the international community and bringing it into the United Nations... This would show seriousness," Egypt's president added.
He also cited the large number of civilian deaths in the subsequent Gaza battles as evidence that the "political horizons for resolving the Palestinian cause always failed" to meet the expectations of the Palestinian people.
In addition, speaking about the post-war phase, El-Sisi supported the idea of demilitarizing Palestine and providing international guarantees to ensure security for both Palestine and Israel.
Palestinians flee to northern Gaza as Israeli tanks block the Salah al-Din road in the central Gaza Strip - Sputnik Africa, 1920, 25.11.2023
Israel-Palestine Escalation
Live Updates: Hamas Military Wing Postpones Release of Second Group of Israeli Hostages
El-Sisi's speech coincided with the start of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas that will see the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli detention facilities in exchange for the release of hostages that Hamas had captured in Israel.
As part of the first stage of the four-day truce, a group of 13 Israeli hostages — women and children — were handed over to the Israeli authorities. Israel, in turn, released 39 Palestinian prisoners, including 24 women.
Qatar, with support from Egypt and the US, brokered the four-day ceasefire agreement, which was reached nearly seven weeks after the long-lasting conflict escalated on October 7 when Gaza militants launched an unprecedented attack on Israeli territory.
In response to this, Israel launched a ground operation in Gaza that has killed at least 14,854 Palestinians, including more than 6,150 children, according to the Gaza Strip government's press office. The Jewish state has lost about 1,200 people since October 7, according to Israeli officials.
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