Ashraf AboArafe
Ambassador Ahmed Abu Zeid, the official spokesman and Director of the Public Diplomacy Department at the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that Mr. Sameh Shoukry participated on February 17th with the Foreign Ministers of Saudi Arabia and Belgium in the discussion session entitled “Towards Stability and Peace in the Middle East: Challenges of De-Escalation,” which was held. On the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.
The official spokesman for the Foreign Ministry revealed that the Minister of Foreign Affairs stressed in his speech during the session the dangers of the collapse of the humanitarian system in the Gaza Strip, and the legal, humanitarian and political responsibility borne by the international community within the framework of the relevant international resolutions in order to facilitate the implementation of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip completely and safely. And sustainable, including Security Council Resolution No. 2720, stressing the need to intensify international movements in order to activate the work of the international mechanism established in accordance with the Security Council resolution to facilitate, monitor and coordinate the process of entering aid, as well as remove Israeli obstacles to achieve full implementation of the provisions of the resolution.
Ambassador Ahmed Abu Zeid stated that Minister Shukri also denounced the inability of the international community to stop the inhumane war waged by Israel against the residents of the Gaza Strip, in complete disregard and flagrant violation of all provisions of international humanitarian law, noting that Israeli practices to create an uninhabited strip for life in Gaza, Attempts to forcefully displace Palestinians from their lands or liquidate the Palestinian cause all directly threaten the foundations of stability in the region.
In a related context, the Minister of Foreign Affairs warned of the grave consequences surrounding any military operations in the city of Rafah – the last refuge for approximately 1.4 million displaced Palestinians – and their repercussions that exceed all limits of humanitarian concepts and international laws, noting also that the occurrence of such a scenario would lead to It affects Egyptian national security, and leads to irreparable damage to peace and security in the Middle East.
Ambassador Abu Zeid added that Minister Shukri addressed the current challenges facing the region as a result of increasing tensions against the backdrop of the Israeli war against Gaza, including in Lebanon and Iraq, and threats to navigation security in the Red Sea, pointing to the necessity of reducing the crisis in Gaza and establishing a ceasefire. Enforce the truce and exchange detainees as soon as possible, and prevent the expansion of the cycle of violence and conflict to other parts of the region.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs concluded his speech by noting Egypt’s involvement in many discussions aimed at resolving this crisis from its roots and achieving peaceful coexistence among the peoples of the region, stressing that comprehensive peace will only be achieved through implementing the two-state solution and establishing an independent Palestinian state with continuous territory. And viable, on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
