Egypt has joined a call led by Turkey and backed by dozens of countries urging the United Nations to halt arms deliveries to Israel, citing concerns over their use, Agence France-Presse reported.
The appeal came as Israel intensifies its assault on the Gaza Strip, causing widespread civilian suffering and its strikes in Lebanon similarly impact civilian areas.
Following Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which led to the death of approximately 1,200 Israelis and the taking of some 250 hostages, Israel launched an intense military campaign on Gaza. This bombardment, which has killed more than 40,000 Palestinians — mostly women and children, according to Gaza’s health ministry — has drawn widespread international condemnation.
A Turkish Foreign Ministry statement on Tuesday said Egypt joined the call as part of “international efforts to pressure Israel to cease its continuous violations of international law and international humanitarian law.”
It also aims to stop “Israeli violations” against Palestinians and protect civilians, the statement read.
Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, on Monday accused Turkey of “malice,” after Ankara submitted a letter signed by 52 countries calling for a halt in arms deliveries to Israel.
Egypt was the first Arab country to sign a peace treaty with Israel in 1979, followed by Jordan in 1994.
In 2020, the Abraham Accords, mediated by the United States, saw the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco recognize Israel.