Egyptian FM says Cairo will maintain Israel peace treaty amid reported threats to sever pact over Rafah op

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry says Cairo has no intention of severing its peace treaty with Israel amid several reports that it threatened to do so over Israel’s planned operation in Rafah, which Egypt fears may lead the million-plus residents sheltering there to flee south and cross the border.

“There is already a peace agreement between Egypt and Israel, which has been in effect for the past forty years, and we will continue to [abide by] this,” Shoukry says in a press conference with his Slovenian counterpart in Ljubljana.

Shoukry adds that Egypt is continuing in its efforts to secure a deal between Israel and Hamas that will allow for the release of the hostages and the entry of more humanitarian aid into Gaza.

He reiterates Egypt’s call for a ceasefire, blasting Israel’s conduct in Gaza, while again warning against the mass displacement of Palestinians.