Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry expressed hope on Thursday that “humanitarian considerations would be the main driver for the United Nations Security Council in dealing with the Gaza Strip.” During a press conference in Cairo with his British counterpart, David Cameron, Shoukry emphasized the need for the Security Council to take responsibility for the destruction in Gaza and the death toll reaching 20,000. He stressed the importance of completely stopping hostilities and delivering aid given the dire situation.
Shoukry added that they expect the UN Security Council’s resolution on the Gaza Strip to meet the necessary requirements and needs of the people in the area. He noted that the anticipated international resolution on Gaza enjoys considerable global support and that they are open to amendments.
The Egyptian Foreign Minister clarified that the events of October 7 do not mark the beginning of this conflict, as there has been an occupation of Palestinian territories since 1967.
The Israeli military has been conducting military operations against the Gaza Strip since October 7, when the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), which controls the strip, announced the start of “Operation Al-Aqsa Flood.” Thousands of rockets were launched from Gaza into Israel, and Israeli towns bordering the sector were invaded, resulting in about 1,200 Israeli deaths and approximately 250 others taken prisoner.
The battles included a 7-day ceasefire achieved through Egyptian, Qatari, and American mediation. During this ceasefire, there was an exchange of women and children prisoners and an agreed quantity of aid was allowed into the Gaza Strip. The military operations resumed on December 1.
Israel officially declared war on the Gaza Strip, starting with destructive bombing followed by ground operations within the sector. These operations have resulted in nearly 20,000 deaths and more than 52,000 injuries, mostly among children and women. Additionally, more than 7,000 people are still missing under the rubble caused by the ongoing Israeli bombardment of the sector.
