Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) spoke on the phone with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Thursday afternoon. It was about the hostage agreement with the Islamist Hamas. The Chancellery announced that an Austrian-Israeli dual national is still being held in the Gaza Strip.
“(…) It is very important for me (…) to work for the early release of Tal Shoham and to free him from the barbaric clutches and terror of Hamas. The aim of our efforts is to reach an agreement on a ceasefire that will, on the one hand, allow the release of the hostages and, on the other, bring more humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip,” said Chancellor Nehammer.
The Egyptian president plays a “valuable mediating role in this conflict.” Close coordination with all partners is needed in the current phase of negotiations, Nehammer said. In the phone call, al-Sisi also emphasized that he wanted to remain committed to a ceasefire, the release of all hostages and more humanitarian aid.
Diplomat in Qatar and Israel
More than a hundred hostages are still believed to be held by the terrorist organization Hamas in the Gaza Strip. According to the chancellery, Nehammer sent his special adviser Peter Launsky-Tieffenthal to the Middle East several times. In recent days he has been to Qatar and Israel to stay in touch with all parties.
Other topics discussed were bilateral relations and economic cooperation, which should be intensified. Nehammer also expressed his gratitude for the hospitality during his last visit, together with several EU heads of government and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, to Cairo on March 17.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
