Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry has stressed the categorical international rejection of Israel’s policies that aim to forcibly displace Palestinians outside their lands, affirming the importance of exerting more efforts in this regard by countries that reject displacement practices.
Shoukry made the remarks during his meeting in Barcelona on Monday with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman al-Safadi, Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Abul Gheit, and Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares.
The meeting was held on the fringes of the 8th Regional Forum of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) which is held today to discuss the latest developments of the situation in the Gaza Strip.
During the meeting, Shoukry expressed thanks to Spain for its position that historically supports the Palestinian cause and its adherence to international principles, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid said.
“The unprecedented deteriorating humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip necessitate an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, which will only be achieved if Israel realizes that it is in its interest; and this will only be achieved through international pressure on Israel,” Shoukry said.
He noted that the volume of aid entering the Gaza Strip, even during the current temporary truce, is inadequate due to the obstacles imposed by Israel on the process of bringing aid into Gaza, which he said prompted the Arab and Islamic groups to submit a draft resolution before the UN Security Council to address this existing defect in the system of bringing humanitarian aid into Gaza.
In this regard, Shoukry expressed his aspiration that Spain would support international moves meant to ensure the entry of humanitarian aid fully and sustainably within the framework of its current presidency of the Council of the European Union.
The foreign ministers attending the meeting praised the positive and balanced Spanish position as regards the war in Gaza, which calls for an immediate ceasefire, allowing the entry of humanitarian and relief aid, and respecting the rules of international humanitarian law.
This has been confirmed by the statements of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez at his recent tour in the region and during his joint press conference with the Belgian prime minister at the Rafah crossing, they added.
The ministers expressed appreciation for Spain’s hosting of the current edition of the UfM’s regional forum to discuss developments of the situation in the Gaza Strip and its surroundings.
They reviewed the unprecedented deteriorating humanitarian conditions in Gaza which necessitate a serious move by the international community to achieve a full and unconditional ceasefire, as well as to bring humanitarian aid into the strip sufficiently and sustainably in a way that meets the urgent needs of the Palestinian people.
The ministers also stressed their full rejection of Israeli policies that target the forced displacement of the Palestinian people – whether inside or outside Gaza – to liquidate the Palestinian cause by imposing a new reality that makes it impossible to live in the Gaza Strip.
They also affirmed their rejection of any attempts to separate the Gaza Strip from the West Bank.
