Abou El-Enein Confronts Israeli Delegate Over Gaza at Union for the Mediterranean Meeting

In a heated session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), Egyptian lawmaker Mohamed Abou El-Enein, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives delivered a powerful and emotional rebuttal to the Israeli delegate, accusing Israel of committing crimes against civilians in Gaza and derailing regional peace efforts.

The tense exchange took place during a high-level meeting in which the humanitarian crisis in Gaza was a focal point. Abou El-Enein did not hold back, addressing the Israeli delegate directly: "Where is the peace we keep talking about? Every day we invite the world to sit and discuss peace, yet innocent people and children are being killed. Who accepts this?" he said.

The Egyptian MP continued, criticizing Israeli military operations in Syria, asking: "Why did you go 400 kilometers deep into Syria? Leave it alone. I’m not comparing, but even Egypt is under pressure. Our president and people bear it for the sake of peace, while others are pushing the region into the abyss."

Abou El-Enein described the situation in Gaza as a genocide, stating: "People are being expelled from their homes, there is no medicine, no food, no water, hospitals are destroyed, and children are dying of starvation. Every day I receive hundreds of messages: ‘Our children are dying, we’ve been displaced.’ What conscience allows this?"

He reminded the assembly of the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative, where 22 Arab nations offered recognition of Israel in exchange for a Palestinian state: "We said: 'You can have your state, and Palestinians can have theirs.' But what was the result? More occupation, more displacement. Today, the plan is clear, to evict all Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank, seize their land, and scatter them across the globe so no Palestinian state can ever exist."

In a direct message to the international community, Abou El-Enein warned: "We are at the most dangerous moment in the region. Everyone knows an explosion could happen at any time. That’s why we must speak the truth: what is happening in Gaza is a crime against humanity. The world must act immediately to stop it."