Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry confirmed on Sunday that Egypt is closely following the case brought by South Africa to the International Court of Justice concerning the Israeli war in the Gaza Strip. Shoukry emphasized the importance of compliance with the Court’s decisions as the highest authority of an international court under the United Nations Charter.
Speaking at a press conference in Cairo on Sunday with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, Shoukry stated, “Egypt is always keen on following and supporting efforts to reveal the truth in any practices, especially when they are of this magnitude against civilians, children, and women, and the extensive destruction in Gaza.” He stressed that the current demand is for interim measures, foremost among them, if the International Court sees fit within its jurisdiction, is to issue a decision to cease fire, which has been Egypt’s demand since the crisis erupted, and to take into account the tragic humanitarian situation in Gaza.
He pointed out the necessity of complying with the decisions of the Court as the highest authority of an international court according to the United Nations Charter. This would help in putting things into perspective for containing the crisis, preventing its escalation, and protecting the Palestinian people from the suffering they endure, including killings, injuries, and forced displacement, as well as preventing the liquidation of the Palestinian cause and the expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank.
Shoukry also referred to the extensive damage caused in the Gaza Strip by the expansion of Israeli military operations, asserting that recognizing the Palestinian state would end the cycle of violence in the region and open pathways for coexistence. It’s crucial to deal with the root of the problem and provide legitimate rights to the Palestinian people, to eliminate the causes of tension and conflict.
Shoukry explained that the current regional events, the situation in Gaza, the tension in the Red Sea, the continued suffering of the Palestinian people, the number of civilian casualties, displacement operations, and the inadequacy in providing humanitarian aid due to procedures for uncovering such aid, have placed civilians in Gaza in a situation that can only be described as “tragic.”
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi emphasized his country’s rejection of the use of military force against Yemen, noting that the international community has not authorized any country to launch strikes in Yemen. During the press conference, Yi expressed concern over the situation in the Red Sea, calling for a halt to attacks on ships and escalation in the area, which threatens the international order.
Yi confirmed that the situation in the Gaza Strip is extremely dangerous, with a large number of Palestinians being killed. He explained that China is working with Arab and Islamic countries to find a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue. He added that the Palestinian issue has persisted for 76 years and this historical injustice against the Palestinians must not continue, emphasizing that an immediate ceasefire in Gaza is a top priority.
Yi called on the international community to intensify its efforts to stop the war immediately and to allow quick entry of humanitarian aid through the United Nations mechanism, given the suffering of two million Palestinians in the sector. He stressed the importance of a two-state solution by establishing an independent Palestinian state to end the conflict.
Both the Egyptian and Chinese foreign ministers stressed the immediate and complete need to cease fire and stop all acts of violence and killing, targeting civilians and civilian facilities in the Gaza Strip. The ministers condemned and rejected “all violations of international law including humanitarian international law and international human rights law, including individual and collective forced transfer and forced displacement of Palestinians from their land.
