Egyptian President warns of "dangerous cycle of instability" amid Gaza conflict

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi issued a stark warning on Saturday regarding the "vicious and dangerous cycle of instability" that the ongoing conflict in Gaza poses to the region. His remarks came during a meeting in Cairo with French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné, as reported by the Egyptian presidency.

President Sissi emphasized the importance of seizing the opportunity presented by current negotiations to reach a ceasefire in Gaza, stressing that an agreement is crucial to ending the bloodshed. 

"It is necessary to seize the opportunity of the ongoing negotiations" to achieve a ceasefire that "will put an end to the bloodshed," Sissi stated, according to the presidential communiqué.

Minister Séjourné briefed President Sissi on France's efforts to de-escalate regional tensions. Earlier on Saturday, Séjourné held talks with his Egyptian counterpart, Badr Abdelatty, discussing ongoing diplomatic efforts to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, according to Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ahmed Abou Zeid.

Concluding his Middle East tour, Séjourné called for restraint from all parties and urged the protection of civilians during a joint press conference with Abdelatty. His visit is part of broader international diplomatic efforts aimed at preventing a regional escalation of the Gaza conflict, particularly amid concerns of potential Iranian military action against Israel.

Abdelatty, who visited Beirut on Friday, emphasized that a ceasefire in Gaza is "key" to preventing the region from spiraling into "a full-scale war." Alongside the United States and Qatar, Egypt is one of the mediators between Israel and Hamas, who have been at war in Gaza since October 7.

Discussions aimed at establishing a truce concluded in Doha on Friday and are set to resume next week in Cairo, based on a new U.S. proposal supported by other mediators. However, Hamas has rejected what it describes as "new conditions" from Israel in the revised agreement.