Can Egypt afford to defy Trump in support of Gaza?
Egypt is walking a tightrope as it tries to balance its support for Palestinians with its common interests with Washington and its security and economic ties to Israel.
CAIRO — As Egypt vigorously pursues diplomatic efforts to reach a lasting truce on the Gaza-Israel border, Cairo's delegate to the Arab League, Yasser al-Atwi, confirmed recently that his country will continue to support the Palestinian people and work to stabilize the cease-fire in the Gaza Strip.
Atwi spoke at a Nov. 15 meeting of the Arab League council in Cairo, where members discussed recent Israeli-Hamas clashes in Gaza.
More than 200 Palestinians have been killed since the weekly Great March of Return protests began in March on the Gaza Strip border with Israel. In mid-November, the fighting reached its worst level in four years.
Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip accepted an Egyptian-brokered cease-fire with Israel on Nov. 13, when Egypt's Foreign Ministry warned of serious potential consequences of continuing the vicious circle of escalation in the Palestinian territories. Egypt called on Israel to immediately halt all military actions in the Gaza Strip.
