RIYADH – Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouli affirmed Monday that what has been happening in the Gaza Strip since October 7th last year is considered collective punishment, adding that the sector needs decades for its reconstruction if an agreement on a ceasefire is reached.
Addressing a dialogue session on the situation in Gaza on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Madbouli said “What happened on October 7th last year was a nightmare for humanity.”
He added, “The repercussions that came from Israel were unbearable, as all Palestinians in Gaza are paying the price for what happened on October 7th. It is not punishment for Hamas movement but for the entire Palestinian people.”
He pointed out that 2.5 million people were living in the Gaza Strip, their lives deteriorated and destroyed, explaining that so far more than 34,000 casualties and more than 77,000 injuries have occurred in addition to 7,000 still missing.
Madbouli explained that more than 74% of health facilities were destroyed, the education system was disrupted, and more than 70% of the infrastructure was destroyed. He added, “Even if we manage to reach a ceasefire agreement and start planning for the future of the sector, we need years for the sector to return to what it was before October 7th.
The premier noted that Egypt has stood by Palestinians since the October 7 attack, adding that more than 85% of humanitarian aid arrived in Gaza was collected and sent by the Egyptian government and Egyptian civil society organisations.
Madbouli said that thousands of injured Palestinians receive treatment in Egyptian hospitals.
The prime minister added that Egypt hosts 9 million refugees due to continued instability and insecurity in the region and Africa, citing the cost of hosting such large number of refugees is estimated at over USD 10 billion annually.
He underlined the need to exert every effort by all relevant parties to avert any Israeli offensive against the Palestinian city of Rafah, where nearly 1.1 million Palestinians, who have been displaced from the northern and central Gaza.
The prime minister said the launch of any offensive against Rafah will lead to further displacement of Palestinians, emphasizing the Egyptian government’s willingness to provide the necessary support for the displaced.
He warned that the displacement of Palestinians from Rafah would liquidate the Palestinian cause.
