CAIRO, Oct 9 (Aswat Masriya) – Egypt condemned the excessive use of force by Israeli occupation forces in the Gaza Strip, said Egypt’s Foreign Ministry Friday.

Seven Palestinians were killed and over 160 were injured by Israeli forces, in the West Bank and east of the Gaza Strip, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

Egypt called on Israel, as an occupying power, to protect the Palestinian people and to stop the repeated attacks which "inflame" the Palestinian people.

It further said that Israel is wasting opportunities that could lead to the success of negotiations between the Israeli and Palestinian sides.

Egypt shares a eastern border with the Gaza Strip in Rafah. 

The densely populated Gaza Strip is run by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), which took over the area in 2006 after winning the Palestinian legislative elections. Ever since, Gaza has faced sanctions and has been under an Israeli land, air and sea blockade since 2007. 

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi stressed Egypt’s stance with Palestine on different occasions, the latest of which was during the UN General Assembly.

He stressed that the establishment of the State of Palestine along the 1967 borders with its capital in East Jerusalem would eliminate the most important cause of instability in the region.