Ashraf AboArafe
Shukri stresses the need to immediately stop the escalation to spare civilians from further risks
On Saturday, October 14, 2023, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ headquarters in Tahrir Palace, Mr. Sameh Shoukry, Minister of Foreign Affairs (FA), received Ms. Annalena Baerbock, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Germany, during her current visit to Cairo, which comes against the backdrop of the current escalation between the Israeli and Palestinian sides.
Ambassador Ahmed Abu Zeid, the official spokesman and director of the Public Diplomacy Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that the talks addressed various dimensions of the deteriorating security and humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, developments in the current escalation between the Israeli and Palestinian sides, and ways to coordinate international and regional efforts to stop this escalation and achieve calm, as they are the current priority to avoid The escalation takes on broader dimensions that increase the complexity of the situation.
Ambassador Abu Zeid added that Minister Sameh Shoukry was keen during the meeting to inform his German counterpart of the results of the contacts carried out by Egypt with the Palestinian and Israeli sides and the main regional and international parties in order to advance truce efforts and provide safe and urgent access for humanitarian aid to the people of the Gaza Strip. The Minister of Foreign Affairs also noted the deteriorating humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip, and the necessity for countries to comply with their humanitarian obligations to provide an urgent humanitarian response to the people of the Strip and alleviate their suffering. He also stressed the importance of refraining from exposing innocent people to policies of collective punishment, such as siege, starvation or displacement, in violation of international obligations within the framework of international humanitarian law.
The Foreign Ministry spokesman added that Minister Shukri also stressed the need to immediately stop the violent Israeli bombing and refrain from any escalatory steps, threats of ground attacks, and intimidation of innocent people. He also affirmed Egypt’s position rejecting the repeated Israeli calls for citizens in Gaza to move to the south of the Strip, due to the dangers it might entail. Exposing the lives of more than a million Palestinian citizens and their families to the risk of remaining homeless in the face of dangerous and harsh humanitarian and security conditions. Minister Shukri was also keen to stress the need for the international community, especially the Security Council and the international and regional actors to assume their responsibilities to stop this escalation and call for calm, to open the way for diplomatic efforts to push towards addressing the root causes of this escalation and restore the path of the peace process to reach a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue, as The only guarantee for restoring security and stability in the region.
Ambassador Abu Zeid stated that the talks also touched on the bilateral aspect of relations between Egypt and Germany, as the two sides stressed the common desire to strengthen and develop strategic relations between the two countries in various fields, and to build on the momentum generated by high-level meetings on both sides during the recent period. Consultations were also held on ways to enhance economic and investment cooperation between the two countries in light of the successful partnerships with German companies in the transportation, manufacturing, and energy sectors.
The official spokesman concluded his statements, revealing that both ministers agreed to intensify consultation and close coordination during the coming days to advance the resolution of the crisis and provide humanitarian support.
