Egypt on Tuesday condemned “in the strongest terms” Israel’s ground incursion into southern Lebanon, which it described as “a flagrant violation of Lebanon’s sovereignty and a grave breach of international law and the United Nations Charter.”
“Cairo reiterates its full solidarity with the Lebanese state at this critical juncture,” the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement, which also stressed the “categorical rejection of any infringement on Lebanon’s sovereignty or violation of its territory.”
The statement also reaffirmed Egypt’s firm and consistent support for Lebanon’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Egypt called for the immediate withdrawal of Israeli forces from all Lebanese territory and for full compliance with UN Security Council Resolution 1701 “in all its provisions and elements, without selectivity.”
This must take place in a manner that ensures that Lebanese state institutions—including the Lebanese army—are able to carry out their responsibilities and extend state authority, the statement added.
Egypt also reaffirmed its principled and longstanding position calling for an immediate and comprehensive halt to all Israeli military operations against Lebanon.
These include the ground incursion and air strikes targeting the capital Beirut and other areas across the country, as well as attacks on positions and personnel of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), in “a blatant violation of international norms.”
Cairo warned that the escalating Israeli violations are exacerbating the humanitarian crisis, increasing civilian suffering and forcing hundreds of thousands into displacement.
It urged the international community and the UN Security Council to “assume their responsibilities” and take decisive action to pressure Israel to halt the escalation and enforce de-escalation, in order to prevent further deterioration of the security and humanitarian situation and to spare the peoples of the region the scourge of an expanding conflict and a slide into dangerous, unforeseeable consequences.
