Germany's Scholz in Egypt to discuss Israel-Hamas war
October 18, 2023
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz arrived in Egypt on Wednesday to discuss the situation in Israel and Gaza with President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi.
Scholz said he wanted to support Egypt's efforts to mediate in the conflict and discussed opening a humanitarian corridor to Gaza as quickly as possible.
"Together with Egypt, we want to work to alleviate the terrible consequences of the war," the German chancellor said.
El-Sissi said that Egypt did not close the Rafah border crossing, which aid convoys have not been able to cross in days.
Before heading to Egypt, Scholz visited Israel in a show of solidarity after the October 7 terror attack by Hamas, the Islamist militant group that rules Gaza. Hamas is deemed a terrorist group by Germany, the United States, the European Union and several Arab states.
Scholz pledges help in freeing hostages
After meeting with Egypt's President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, Scholz pledged to help free hostages who were kidnapped by Hamas as well as to help humanitarian aid reach Palestinians in Gaza.
Several German citizens are among the foreign nationals being held hostage by Hamas. Scholz met with some of their families while in Tel Aviv on Tuesday.
Scholz also backed efforts by Egypt to mediate in the conflict.
"Together with Egypt, we want to work to alleviate the terrible consequences of the war," the German chancellor said.
Egypt's border crossing with Gaza
El-Sissi said Egypt did not close the Rafah border crossing with Gaza, where aid convoys have been held up for days, and instead said it was not operating due to being bombarded.
The Egyptian president also said he did not want to see Palestinians expelled from Gaza to the Sinai Peninsula, which he said would then be turned into a launching ground for "terrorist attacks" against Israel.
"We are rejecting the liquidation of the Palestinian cause and the expulsion of Palestinians to Sinai," el-Sissi added.
zc/wmr (Reuters, AFP, epd, KNA)