Erdogan and El-Sissi Unite in Call for Gaza Ceasefire Amid Rising Tensions

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi have jointly called for an immediate cessation of hostilities in Gaza, highlighting the urgency of halting Israel’s anticipated offensive on Rafah. This appeal was made during Erdogan’s landmark visit to Cairo, marking a notable thaw in relations between Turkey and Egypt after years of estrangement.

Erdogan’s trip to Egypt, the first in over a decade, signals a warming of ties and a concerted effort to address the escalating conflict in Gaza. The Turkish president, known for his support of the Muslim Brotherhood — a group outlawed in Egypt — has shifted focus towards fostering regional stability and peace.

During discussions at Cairo’s Ittihadiya palace, both leaders underscored the critical need for a ceasefire in Gaza and the West Bank, aiming to revive Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. The war in Gaza, now at a tipping point with Israel poised to launch a ground offensive in Rafah, has led to dire humanitarian conditions, with over half of Gaza’s population living in overcrowded shelters and facing acute shortages.

Erdogan, in his address, explicitly urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to refrain from a ground assault on Rafah, accusing Israel of perpetrating “massacres” in Gaza. He stressed that any attempts to depopulate Gaza were indefensible, reflecting deep concerns over the potential for further civilian displacement and suffering.

Egypt, sharing a border with the Gaza Strip, faces the prospect of a humanitarian crisis, with potential influxes of displaced Palestinians into the Sinai Peninsula should a ground offensive on Rafah proceed. In response, Egypt has voiced considerations to suspend its longstanding peace treaty with Israel, underscoring the gravity of the current situation.

The conflict, initiated by a Hamas assault on Israel on October 7, has resulted in significant casualties, including the deaths of approximately 1,200 individuals, predominantly civilians, and the abduction of around 250. Gaza’s Health Ministry reports that the Palestinian death toll has exceeded 28,000, with a quarter of the territory’s residents facing starvation.