From Yusuf Erim’s tweet
Summary of an insightful @FT article (link below) on the EU’s behind the scene diplomacy and thinking regarding the War in Gaza:
– Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu sought to convince European leaders to put pressure on Egypt into accepting refugees from Gaza, according to people briefed on the discussions.
– The idea was put forward in meetings with European officials last week
– Key European countries (France, Germany and the UK) dismissed the proposal as unrealistic, pointing to Egyptian officials’ consistent resistance to the idea of accepting refugees from Gaza, even on a temporary basis.
– Cairo expressed concerns that Israel would seek to use the crisis to force its problems with the Palestinians on to Egypt.
– Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said this month that his country rejected “any attempt to liquidate the Palestinian issue by military means or through the forced displacement of Palestinians from their land, which would come at the expense of the countries of the region”.
– Egypt’s potential role was discussed in the EU summit
– leaders ultimately agreed that Egypt should play a role in providing broad humanitarian assistance to Gaza, but not be pressured to accept refugees.
– A western diplomat said they believed the pressure of a continued Israeli assault on Gaza could yet lead to a shift in (Egypt’s) stance.
– talks were also ongoing about bringing injured people from Gaza to Egypt, but that there was no certainty that a deal would be reached.
– person familiar with the situation says “The Turks [have] offered to establish a field hospital if necessary. We’re not planning to move field hospitals to [north Sinai] but offering to provide technical support to strengthen a referral pathway from Gaza to Egypt,”
https://ft.com/content/75971d8b-e2fd-4275-8747-0bd443673483
Summary of an insightful @FT article (link below) on the EU’s behind the scene diplomacy and thinking regarding the War in Gaza:
– Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu sought to convince European leaders to put pressure on Egypt into accepting refugees from Gaza, according to people…
— Yusuf Erim (@YusufErim34) October 31, 2023
