Ashraf AboArafe
Ambassador Ahmed Abu Zeid, the official spokesman and Director of the Public Diplomacy Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry received a phone call on January 6 from Catherine Colonna, French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs.
The official spokesman for the Egyptian Foreign Ministry stated that the two ministers discussed in detail the developments of the Gaza Strip crisis in light of the tragic humanitarian conditions, and exchanged assessments regarding the international efforts required to ensure adequate and continuous access of humanitarian aid to the Strip. In this context, Minister Shukri stressed the necessity of fully implementing the provisions of Security Council Resolution No. 2720, which includes establishing a mechanism under international auspices to accelerate and monitor the process of implementing humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, calling on his French counterpart to work during her country’s presidency of the work of the Security Council during the month of January to follow up on the implementation of the resolution and ensure Achieving its goals and objectives.
Ambassador Abu Zeid added that the Foreign Minister reaffirmed during the call Egypt’s categorical rejection of any measures or statements that encourage the departure of Palestinians from their lands, demanding the need to stop the irresponsible and inflammatory statements that are repeatedly issued by some Israeli officials in this regard, which the international community has confirmed. The major powers and the United Nations rejected it completely.
Abu Zeid revealed that Shukri and Colonna’s discussions also touched on developments on the Lebanese scene and the increasing threats to navigation in the Red Sea, where they warned of the great dangers surrounding scenarios of expanding the conflict and the threat it represents to the stability of the entire region and to international peace and security.
In this context, Minister Sameh Shukri stressed the need for international parties to assume their responsibilities towards supporting the achievement of a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire in Gaza to end the tragic humanitarian situation that our Palestinian brothers are suffering from, as well as the need to put an end to the increasing Israeli violence and violations in the West Bank, stressing that the long The extension of the current crisis, and the continued failure to stop Israeli attacks that violate all provisions of international law, portend dangers that threaten the future of the international community’s dealings with the Palestinian issue, in addition to expanding the circle of violence and entering the region into an adventure with uncalculated consequences.
The two ministers agreed to continue consultation during the coming period regarding the necessary measures to contain the crisis in Gaza and limit its repercussions.
