Egypt says Gaza truce is key to averting regional war

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said a Gaza ceasefire was the “key” to preventing a broader regional war during his visit to Beirut Friday, AFP reports. Abdelatty's visit to the Lebanese capital followed the resumption of ceasefire talks in Doha, mediated by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States. Speaking after a meeting with his Lebanese counterpart, the Egyptian minister said the mediators’ goal was to quickly reach a deal that would end the killing of civilians and facilitate a prisoner and hostage exchange. This agreement, according to Abdelatty, is crucial for initiating de-escalation in the region.

The visit comes amid heightened tensions, with near-daily exchanges of fire between Hezbollah and Israel following the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel. The cross border violence has resulted in the deaths of at least 118 civilians and more than 400 Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon, according to AFP. The Israeli Army says 26 civilians 22 soldiers have been killed on the Israeli side.