Media reports appeared stating that Operation Shield and Arrow would end in a ceasefire, thanks to mediation led by Egypt and Qatar. Similar to Operation Breaking Dawn in August 2022, this time as well keeping Hamas out of the campaign was marked as one of the important keys to stop the escalation.
If and when the mediation is successful, Egypt will most likely be lauded by the international community, earn words of appreciation from Israel and the Palestinians, and further strengthen its stature in Gaza. Even apart from these dividends, Egypt sees the return of peace and stability to its northern border as a national security interest, especially at a time when it is dealing with tens of thousands of refugees from Sudan and a worsening economic crisis.
However, the Egyptian mediation, even if it does succeed, is accompanied by uneven ground in Israel-Egypt relations. According to reports in the Arab press, Cairo was surprised by the targeted killing of the Islamic Jihad senior figures, which was contrary to previous signals received from Jerusalem. Anonymous sources in the Egyptian General Intelligence Service accused Israel of intentionally misleading Egypt and damaging its reputation as a mediator. Indeed, Palestinian tweeters described Egypt as an accomplice of Israel.
In an official statement, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry condemned the "Israeli escalation in the occupied Palestinian territories." In the Egyptian establishment media it was claimed that Israel acted out of internal political considerations – stabilizing the unstable coalition. Accordingly, the Israeli government is seen in Egypt as a problematic partner in driving reality-changing moves that are necessary to achieve long-term calm in Gaza, and which in Cairo's view involve the strengthening of the Palestinian Authority and the creation of some kind of political and economic horizon for the Palestinians.
In tandem with the security mediation efforts, Egypt is also working on the diplomatic level. The Egyptian Foreign Minister flew to Berlin yesterday to meet with the foreign ministers of Jordan, Germany, and France and discuss the situation in the Palestinian arena. As tensions continue in Jerusalem and the territories, and the disconnect between the government in Jerusalem and the Palestinian leadership in Ramallah deepens, Egypt's role as a mediator between the parties is expected to expand from Gaza to the West Bank.
Media reports appeared stating that Operation Shield and Arrow would end in a ceasefire, thanks to mediation led by Egypt and Qatar. Similar to Operation Breaking Dawn in August 2022, this time as well keeping Hamas out of the campaign was marked as one of the important keys to stop the escalation.
If and when the mediation is successful, Egypt will most likely be lauded by the international community, earn words of appreciation from Israel and the Palestinians, and further strengthen its stature in Gaza. Even apart from these dividends, Egypt sees the return of peace and stability to its northern border as a national security interest, especially at a time when it is dealing with tens of thousands of refugees from Sudan and a worsening economic crisis.
However, the Egyptian mediation, even if it does succeed, is accompanied by uneven ground in Israel-Egypt relations. According to reports in the Arab press, Cairo was surprised by the targeted killing of the Islamic Jihad senior figures, which was contrary to previous signals received from Jerusalem. Anonymous sources in the Egyptian General Intelligence Service accused Israel of intentionally misleading Egypt and damaging its reputation as a mediator. Indeed, Palestinian tweeters described Egypt as an accomplice of Israel.
In an official statement, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry condemned the "Israeli escalation in the occupied Palestinian territories." In the Egyptian establishment media it was claimed that Israel acted out of internal political considerations – stabilizing the unstable coalition. Accordingly, the Israeli government is seen in Egypt as a problematic partner in driving reality-changing moves that are necessary to achieve long-term calm in Gaza, and which in Cairo's view involve the strengthening of the Palestinian Authority and the creation of some kind of political and economic horizon for the Palestinians.
In tandem with the security mediation efforts, Egypt is also working on the diplomatic level. The Egyptian Foreign Minister flew to Berlin yesterday to meet with the foreign ministers of Jordan, Germany, and France and discuss the situation in the Palestinian arena. As tensions continue in Jerusalem and the territories, and the disconnect between the government in Jerusalem and the Palestinian leadership in Ramallah deepens, Egypt's role as a mediator between the parties is expected to expand from Gaza to the West Bank.