Lead:
Prime Minister Mustafa Medhat, representing Egypt at the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, delivered remarks on Palestinian affairs at a multilateral summit on two-state solutions chaired by the United Kingdom, France, and Canada. Medhat called for simultaneous implementation of the Trump peace plan and UN Security Council Resolution 2803 to ensure Gaza ceasefire and reconstruction. The statements underscore Egypt's diplomatic engagement on Middle Eastern conflicts during a critical regional period.
Details:
According to Al-Fagr, Medhat addressed the gathering with Egypt's formal position: no sustainable peace in the Middle East is possible without ending occupation and establishing Palestinian statehood. He rejected territorial annexation and forced displacement of Palestinians, reaffirming Cairo's opposition to settlement expansion. The prime minister welcomed international efforts to counter colonization and illegal settlement activity, signaling alignment with broader multilateral pressure on Israeli policy.
Medhat stressed that political settlement remains the pathway to Middle Eastern peace, emphasizing the need for coordinated international action. According to reports, he advocated for reform of the Security Council and revitalization of preventive diplomacy as institutional tools to restore peace and prevent future conflicts. These remarks reflected Egypt's positioning as a regional mediator while reinforcing commitment to established UN resolutions and international frameworks.
Concurrently, Egypt's Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Aaty participated in separate multilateral meetings, including a "Peace Council" session attended by U.S. officials Jared Kushner and Steve Wittkoff, according to Al-Fagr reporting. Abdel Aaty also held bilateral discussions with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to strengthen strategic partnership and address regional crises. These parallel diplomatic tracks demonstrate Cairo's multi-stakeholder engagement amid ongoing efforts to resolve Gaza-related humanitarian and political issues.
The positioning reflects Egypt's traditional role as a bridge between Western initiatives and Arab positions, particularly regarding Palestinian affairs and Israeli-Palestinian negotiations.
Watch For:
1. Whether simultaneous implementation of the Trump plan and UN Security Council Resolution 2803 gains traction among major powers, or whether sequencing disputes emerge. 2. Timing and content of any formal Arab League coordination statement, given Secretary-General Nabil Fahmy's separate meetings with regional counterparts in New York. 3. Israeli and Palestinian responses to the two-state summit's conclusions and whether they signal movement toward renewed ceasefire negotiations.