Egypt trying to mediate between Hamas, Israel; Saudi calls for immediate cessation

Cairo [Egypt], October 8: Egypt said it is holding "intense contacts" with "influential" international parties to halt the ongoing Palestinian-Israeli escalation.
Egyptian Foreign Minister SamehShoukry called EU foreign policy chief JosepBorrel on the "serious escalation at the Palestinian-Israeli level," a spokesman for the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said on Saturday.
Meanwhile Saudi Arabia, which has been negotiating with Israel about normalizing relations, has called for an "immediate cessation" of the hostilities between the Palestinians and Israel. The United States, a major ally of both countries, is mediating the normalization talks.
The kingdom's Foreign Ministry called in a statement for the protection of civilians from violence and the exercise of self-restraint. The kingdom warned that the "continuation of occupation, deprivation of the Palestinian people of their legitimate rights and repetition of systematic provocations against their sanctities" could lead to tensions boiling over.
Meanwhile, Iran-backed Hezbollah hailed the Hamas attack on Israel, calling it "heroic." It said it maintained direct contact with the Palestinian leaders inside and outside the Palestinian territories to conduct a "constant evaluation" of the operations. Hezbollah has been designated a terrorist organization by the United States,
Germany, the United Kingdom, Israel and the Arab League. (DPA)
Source: Qatar Tribune