Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry has urged Israel not to undertake any military actions in Rafah, following statements about a potential invasion of the city located in southern Gaza. During a press conference with his Irish counterpart in Egypt’s new administrative capital today, Shoukry emphasized the necessity of having the capability to deter Israel should it invade Rafah.
Shoukry added that the global conscience cannot bear the ongoing scale of killings in Gaza, which has reached 34,000 deaths, including 20,000 women and children, and the continued destruction that has rendered the sector uninhabitable.
He stressed the need to stop the war and work towards ending it by establishing a framework that leads to the resolution of the conflict through the efforts currently being made by countries to end the conflict by establishing a Palestinian state. This is an initiative that should be supported by all partners and the international community.
Shoukry noted that UNRWA is the only organization capable of distributing aid within the Palestinian territories, and that countries that have suspended their contributions to UNRWA have significantly harmed the organization amidst this catastrophic humanitarian situation.
Egypt has maintained a complex stance during the recent conflict in Gaza, balancing its diplomatic relations and regional responsibilities. Despite Egypt’s historical peace treaty with Israel and its role as a mediator in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the Egyptian government has expressed strong opposition to the Israeli military actions in Gaza, which President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi described as exceeding the right to self-defense and constituting collective punishment
During the crisis, Egypt has faced significant internal and external pressures. Domestically, there is a strong public sentiment against the Israeli actions, and internationally, there are expectations for Egypt to facilitate humanitarian aid and possibly mediate negotiations. However, Egypt has been cautious, particularly regarding any actions that might lead to the displacement of Palestinians into its territory, which is viewed as a red line for Egyptian national security.
