Day After Sisi Calls for De-escalation, Israel Airstrikes Gaza Camps and Residential Buildings

The Gaza Strip was again struck by Israeli airstrikes on Wednesday, with residential areas and refugee camps both targeted. According to Africa News citing the Associated Press, the Israeli military confirmed on September 9 that it had carried out airstrikes on Nuseirat, the Dalajie Tufa area, and al-Shati refugee camp, injuring at least nine people and leveling multiple buildings.

Al-Awda Hospital confirmed that wounded individuals brought in after a strike on a residence in central Nuseirat had been admitted to the hospital. Video released by the Associated Press shows an Israeli military rocket striking al-Shati refugee camp and causing a violent explosion.

This round of strikes occurred less than twenty-four hours after Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi publicly called for de-escalation of the Middle East crisis. Sisi made the remarks on Tuesday at a joint press conference in Cairo with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and reiterated solidarity among Arab states.

"I reiterate Egypt's firm rejection of any attempts to harm Arab brotherly states, and our full solidarity with them. This position is rooted in our belief in a shared destiny and our understanding of the interconnectedness of Arab states," Sisi said at the press conference.

The holding of the trilateral meeting indicates that Cyprus and Greece are attempting to intervene in the Middle East crisis management process. However, Egypt's call for de-escalation coincided with the following day's bombardment of Gaza, once again highlighting the limits of regional diplomatic efforts in the face of ongoing military operations. The Israeli military did not publicly state the specific reasons for each strike.