Ashraf AboArafe
Ambassador Ahmed Abu Zeid, the official spokesman and Director of the Public Diplomacy Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that, on Thursday, April 4, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Sameh Shukri, received a phone call from Ms. Yoko Kamikawa, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan, discussing developments in the situation in the Gaza Strip and joint efforts to reach an agreement. A ceasefire and facilitating the entry of humanitarian aid.
The official Foreign Ministry spokesman explained that the Japanese Foreign Minister began the call by congratulating the Foreign Minister on the occasion of His Excellency President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi taking the constitutional oath, marking the start of a new presidential term, indicating her country’s aspiration to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries during that period.
Kamikawa stressed Japan’s keenness to continue the pace of consultation and coordination with Egypt on the most important regional and international issues, referring in this regard to her last meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs on the sidelines of the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting held in Brazil last February, praising the partnership with Egypt. Due to its pivotal role in achieving peace and security in the Middle East and Africa regions. In this regard, the Foreign Minister expressed his aspiration to respond to the Japanese Minister’s call to hold a round of strategic dialogue between the two countries, to build on the visit of the Japanese Prime Minister to Cairo in April 2023, which witnessed the announcement of raising bilateral relations to the level of “strategic partnership.”
In connection with the ongoing war in Gaza, Ambassador Abu Zeid revealed that the Japanese Foreign Minister notified Mr. Sameh Shukri of her country’s decision to resume funding for UNRWA on April 2, out of her belief in the importance of the vital role played by the United Nations organization in alleviating the suffering of the brotherly Palestinian people in light of the continuing deteriorating situation. Humanity, which contradicts all humanitarian principles and the rules of international law and international humanitarian law. Minister Shukry expressed Egypt’s appreciation for this decision, which he considered a correct move on the part of Japan, as the decision of some countries to stop funding the United Nations without obtaining conclusive evidence about the circumstances of its connection to the events of October 7, and at this extremely dangerous time in which UNRWA is a lifeline. The main source of life for the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip was an incorrect decision that further complicates the disastrous humanitarian conditions experienced by the residents of the Gaza Strip.
The Foreign Ministry spokesman added that the Japanese Foreign Minister expressed her country’s appreciation for the pivotal role played by Egypt in mediating between the parties with the aim of reaching a truce that leads to a permanent ceasefire, as well as its pioneering role in securing the flow of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. The call also addressed the continuation of Israeli violations and the deterioration of the dire humanitarian conditions, as the Foreign Minister conveyed Egypt’s strong denunciation of Israel’s continued targeting of humanitarian workers inside the Gaza Strip, referring in this regard to the recent incident of targeting relief workers of the “World Central Kitchen Foundation.” Minister Shukri also stressed the need for the Security Council to ensure the immediate implementation of Resolution 2728, and to build on it to achieve a permanent ceasefire beyond the month of Ramadan, and the full entry of humanitarian aid that meets the urgent needs of the Palestinians in Gaza.
The Foreign Ministry spokesman added that during the call, Minister Sameh Shoukry was keen to reaffirm Egypt’s categorical rejection of any scenarios targeting the forced displacement of the population of Gaza and the liquidation of the Palestinian cause, as well as any ground invasion of the Palestinian city of Rafah. This matter was confirmed by the Japanese Foreign Minister as extremely dangerous, affirming her country’s rejection of any ground attack on the Palestinian Rafah, as it would have catastrophic humanitarian repercussions on the residents of the Strip.
At the end of the call, the two sides agreed to continue coordination and consultation in order to enhance their joint efforts to stop the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip as soon as possible.
