The Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament, Nabih Berri, received the Egyptian Foreign Minister, Badr Abd El-Aty, and the accompanying delegation at the second presidential residence in Ain El-Tineh, in the presence of the Egyptian Ambassador to Lebanon, Alaa Moussa. The discussions focused on the general situation in Lebanon and the region in light of Israel's continued aggression against Lebanon and the Gaza Strip, as well as ongoing efforts to halt this aggression, in addition to Lebanese-Egyptian bilateral relations.
Berri highly appreciated the significant efforts made by the Arab Republic of Egypt and President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to stop the Israeli war on Gaza, noting Egypt's historic role and its continuous friendship, brotherhood, and solidarity with Lebanon in all circumstances, especially during times of crises and hardships. He confirmed the convergence of views between Lebanon and Egypt, considering that the real root of the conflict in the region is the Palestinian cause and the granting of the Palestinian people their legitimate rights. He believed that the success of efforts underway in the Qatari capital, Doha, to establish a ceasefire is the fundamental entry point for restoring stability and solutions in the region.
For his part, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abd El-Aty stated after the hour-long meeting: "Of course, I was pleased and honored to meet Prime Minister Nabih Berri, and we discussed the difficult situation that Lebanon and the region are currently facing. I conveyed to him a message of support and solidarity from the Egyptian leadership and the people of Egypt to the brotherly Lebanese people and its government and all Lebanese state institutions, indicating that Egypt is in solidarity with Lebanon and we also affirm that the security and stability of Lebanon is primarily in Egypt's interest, and it is also an Arab interest that we work to maintain."
He added, "I am here in Lebanon on the assignment and direction of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to convey this clear message and to reaffirm our support for Lebanon, its government, leadership, and people. We also emphasize the importance of halting escalation and not dragging the region into a full-scale regional war. Egypt is making every possible effort, as you know, to stop this escalation and to work as quickly as possible to achieve an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and halt the Israeli aggression on Gaza."
He continued, "What I conveyed to the Speaker is that the core of the conflict in this region is the continuation of the Palestinian cause without a solution, and the ongoing denial of the Palestinian people’s legitimate rights, foremost among them their right to establish an independent state on their entire national soil within the borders of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital. I also reminded him that the continued aggression on Gaza and the targeting and killing of innocent civilians is the primary reason for the escalation in the region, and it is essential to reach an immediate ceasefire in Gaza to stop the escalation."
Abd El-Aty affirmed to Berri Egypt's condemnation of all provocative policies, including violations of Lebanon's sovereignty, reaffirming Egypt's support for the unity of Lebanon, its territorial integrity, and sovereignty. He condemned any violation of this sovereignty, stating that the aggression against the southern suburbs of our beloved capital Beirut is strongly rejected, and assassination policies are completely unacceptable.
The minister concluded by emphasizing, "We stand with Lebanon in this crisis and difficult circumstance, and we will not spare any effort to achieve an immediate ceasefire in Gaza as it is fundamental to halting the escalation and easing tensions."
Abd El-Aty then headed to the Grand Serail for a meeting with caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, who affirmed that "Lebanon appreciates the international and Arab efforts being made to stop the fire in Gaza and the Israeli assaults on southern Lebanon." During the meeting, the Prime Minister thanked Egypt for its continuous support for Lebanon in all circumstances and forums, expressing his appreciation for President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s repeated initiatives to support Lebanon.
He stressed that "Lebanon reaffirms its commitment to fully implement UN Resolution 1701, and there is a need to pressure Israel to implement the resolution and stop its aggression against Lebanon." The Egyptian minister conveyed to Mikati the greetings and appreciation of the Egyptian president, noting that "his visit is a strong message of support for Lebanon, and efforts continue to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza to defuse tensions."
