Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry renewed his total rejection of the measures taken to force the Palestinians to leave Gaza.
This came during a press conference held by Shoukry on Tuesday with his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock at the New Administrative Capital (NAC).
Shoukry lauded the depth of Egyptian-German ties in the different domains and coordination between both countries in addition to regional and international issues of mutual interest.
Shoukry said that the talks tackled the distinguished ties between Egypt and Germany in addition to the devastating situation in Gaza.
Shoukry termed the Egyptian-German ties as strong, adding that they developed during the past period and had strategic partnerships.
Shoukry stated that discussions with his German counterpart addressed efforts to restore political perspectives related to the two-state solution. He added that the occupation remains a major cause of instability in the region. It is essential to address all issues related to security of the peoples of the region and achieve the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, the diplomat noted.
During the joint press conference held on Tuesday at the ministry’s headquarters in the new Administrative Capital, Shoukry explained that Baerbock would later visit El-Arish and the Rafah border crossing to directly observe the extensive efforts made by Egypt and the Egyptian Red Crescent in providing humanitarian aid, despite significant hindrances and excessive measures imposed by the Israeli authorities.
Shoukry pointed out that the appointment of the United Nations Coordinator, in accordance with Security Council Resolution 2720, is expected to facilitate the access of humanitarian aid to the sector. He emphasized that the humanitarian suffering of 2.3 million Palestinians, forced displacement from north to south in the Gaza Strip, and the current targeting and killing of civilians in the south, with a toll of nearly 23,000, one-third of whom are children and women, impose a significant burden on the international system to respect international humanitarian law.
The foreign minister affirmed that every effort is being made to provide aid, strongly rejecting the measures taken to pressure the Palestinian people in Gaza to force them into displacement. He added that there is a need for a ceasefire, which has become essential to deal with the crisis in both its political framework and humanitarian aspects, ensuring the security of the Palestinian people, stability, and the establishment of the Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, and an end to the occupation. All of these are the key components to break free from the ongoing cycle of violence in the region, he stated.
Answering a question on targeting a large number of journalists in the Gaza Strip, Shoukry said that we should focus on reaching a ceasefire, adding that 23,000 people including 10,000 children lost their lives in the war on Gaza.
He said that the international community is unable to frankly urge a ceasefire and provide aid to more than 2 million people living without homes, food or healthcare.
Shoukry mourned the death of a number of journalists in the enclave, adding that the international community did not condemn or criticize their murder.
Answering a question on the post-war arrangements and the role that will be played by Egypt and Germany to reach peace, Shoukry said that German plays a very important role on the international arena and in the European Union that qualifies it for achieving peace and stability in the region.
