FM: Egypt, its partners exert their utmost to reach ceasefire in Gaza

Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shourky has stressed that Egypt is exerting its utmost, with the support of its US and Qatari partners to reach a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

“It is necessary for both Hamas and Israel to show the political will, take responsibility to reach a ceasefire and protect civilians,” Shoukry told state broadcaster, SABC, in Pretoria after bilateral talks with his South African counterpart Naledi Pandor Saturday.

“It’s essential that we continue to focus on the safety of the Palestinian people. Over 33,000, people have been killed, among them 20,000 women and children. It is appalling and must stop. We must reach a ceasefire, return hostages and detainees,” he said.

Shoukry said there is a dire need to provide humanitarian assistance for Gazans and that the displacement operations constitute a war crime.

“We must regain peace and security and a political horizon to provide legitimate rights of the Palestinian people and the establishment of their state along the June 4, 1967, with Al Quds as its capital,” he added.

On the current escalation between Israel and Iran, he said “The countries of the region deserve peace, security and stability and should live in harmony and cooperation.”

He said Egypt had warned that escalation would lead to a wider conflict in the region that does not serve the benefit of the security of any country.

He said there is already a detriment to the global economy following military activities in the Red Sea, which, he added should also be addressed.

Pandor said the most important issue for the international community at present is the safety of the Palestinians.

“We should be aiming toward a ceasefire, we should be aiming to protect all Palestinian people and ending the massacre and onslaught of Palestinians that is the key focus and we have been always saying we don’t want to see an escalation of hostilities — the world doesn’t need it.

“What we need is peace. What we need is stability and security and we need to ensure that this terrible tragedy is brought to an end,” said Pandor.