Egypt views Hamas as 'a political national Palestinian faction', says foreign minister

Egypt's Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty on Wednesday said that his government deals with Hamas as "a political national Palestinian faction", and that Hamas is "committed beyond doubt" to the terms of the ceasefire proposals of 27 May and 2 July.

In his jont press confrence with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Cairo, Abdelatty said that the pager explosions that took place in Lebanon on Tuesday and which Hezbollah has blamed on Israel are yet another blow to ceasefire efforts.

"Any escalation including what happened yesterday, certainly curtails and adds a stumbling block to efforts of a ceasefire and freeing the hostages," he said. 

"The attack does not only obstruct ceasefire efforts, it also threatens the region with a fullscale war. This is very serious. That is why unilateral policies, and the policies of assasinations must stop," he added.