Egypt hosts a major international summit this Saturday to examine the conflict between Israel and Hamas

MADRID, 21 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The president of Egypt, Abdel Fattá al Sisi, will host the summit this Saturday in Cairo to examine the escalation of the conflict after the attack perpetrated on October 7 in Israel by militants of the Palestinian group Hamas, in the largest international meeting magnitude since the outbreak of the war.

The Egyptian Government had already announced its intention to hold this forum and this past Monday several countries reported sending invitations. Thus, the official agencies of Qatar and Kuwait have confirmed the date of holding said summit, in which it is planned to discuss issues related to the "Palestinian question."

Cairo plays a key role, to the extent that the only border crossing in the Gaza Strip that is not controlled by Israel, Rafah, depends on Egypt.

This crossing has remained closed after the intensification of Israeli bombing in southern Gaza, but countries such as the United States are negotiating its possible reopening to allow the entry of humanitarian aid into the Strip.

Since its call last Monday, the war in Gaza has only increased in intensity. The respective tolls put the Palestinians killed by the bombings in the Strip carried out by Israel at more than 4,000, while 1,400 Israelis have died since the beginning of the offensive by Hamas and the Palestinian militias.

Likewise, the Israeli Army and Hezbollah militias have been exchanging artillery shells on the border for almost a week in what could become in a matter of days, the international community fears, the opening of a new front in the war.

In this scenario, Cairo will host this summit of leaders and foreign ministers that will have, among others, the presence of the president of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Palestinian president, Mahmud Abbas, as well as the emirs of Qatar and Bahrain. and Kuwait, and the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, among others, as well as the Secretary General of the UN, Antonio Guterres. China will send its Middle East affairs officer, Zhai Jun, while Russia will be represented by Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov.

Spain will be represented by the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, and by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares. Other invited countries are Germany, France and Italy, at the European level, as well as Algeria and Morocco, as well as China and Brazil. The European Union delegation will be led by the president of the European Council, Charles Michel, and the high representative of Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell.

Last night, European sources explained, they were working on a joint statement that outlines the solution to the conflict and addresses the humanitarian issue, although the positions at the moment are divergent and in Brussels they are not betting on the final declaration going ahead.