In a recent meeting in Geneva, Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and his Jordanian counterpart, Ayman Safadi, discussed the ongoing Israeli war on the Gaza Strip.
According to Ahmed Abu Zeid, the official spokesperson for the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, both sides reviewed the current developments and warned of the severe repercussions of any ground military operation in the Palestinian city of Rafah, which would significantly exacerbate the humanitarian crisis already impacting civilians in the area.
The ministers stressed the importance of continued efforts to ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza amidst the collapse of its humanitarian infrastructure.
They also highlighted the need to work together to prevent the expansion of the current conflict, emphasizing the severe risks it poses to the security and stability of the region.
Shoukry expressed Egypt’s concerns regarding the deteriorating situation in the West Bank, with an increase in Israeli military incursions threatening to escalate tensions. He reiterated Egypt’s stance that clear steps towards implementing the two-state solution and establishing a Palestinian state are indispensable.
Shoukry also mentioned Egypt’s efforts to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, aiming for the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2720.
This includes activating the UN mechanism for facilitating and monitoring the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, creating a new status quo in the sector that overcomes the current humanitarian crisis and the aftermath of the destructive war.
Additionally, the meeting addressed the challenges faced by the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) due to the suspension of financial contributions by some donor countries.
Both ministers affirmed the support for UNRWA within its established mandate, warning that any compromise to this mandate could have dire consequences for the Palestinian refugee issue, which remains a pivotal element of the final settlement discussions.
