Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and his Saudi counterpart, Faisal bin Farhan, held a press conference in Cairo on Sunday, calling for a binding international resolution on the Palestinian issue. The ministers condemned what they described as “collective punishment” of Palestinians as contrary to international law and unacceptable, demanding an immediate ceasefire and the facilitation of humanitarian aid access.
Shoukry highlighted that allowing Israel to violate international laws would only escalate the conflict. He emphasized the need for the United Nations to be permitted to deliver necessary aid and equipment to the residents of the Gaza Strip, expressing Cairo’s astonishment at some countries’ announcements to cease funding for the UN’s Palestinian refugee agency, UNRWA.
The Saudi Foreign Minister reiterated that stopping the fighting in Gaza and delivering aid is a priority for Riyadh and Cairo, both of which are keen on coordinating their regional stances. He stated that they, along with other Arab countries, continue to press for the protection of Palestinians.
The recent situation in Gaza has been extremely dire, with the UN’s top humanitarian official reporting that fierce hostilities from air, sea, and ground have resulted in the destruction or severe damage of 41,000 houses. Over 1.5 million Gazans have been displaced, and 18 hospitals have shut down, leaving hundreds of thousands living in fear under continuous bombardment. The death toll is said to exceed 11,000, with the majority being children and women, although the actual number could be higher due to communication network collapses. Food and water supplies, especially in the north of Gaza, are running dangerously low, and the lack of fuel is causing essential services like water desalination to fail progressively.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ruled on emergency measures in a genocide case against Israel concerning its actions in Gaza, urging Israel to take steps to prevent acts of genocide, although a ceasefire was not ordered. This comes amid ongoing intense Israeli strikes across the Gaza Strip.
It was reported that hundreds of Palestinians have been killed in Gaza in the last 24 hours due to Israeli strikes, further escalating the humanitarian crisis in the region.
