Ashraf AboArafe
On Saturday, September 6, Dr. Badr Abdelatty, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration, and Expatriates’ Affairs, received Mr. Philippe Lazzarini, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Commissioner-General of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), to discuss the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza and ways to enhance support for the Palestinian people.
Ambassador Tamim Khalaf, Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that Minister Abdelatty expressed deep appreciation for the tireless efforts made by UNRWA and its staff in serving Palestinian refugees despite political, financial, and operational challenges. He also conveyed condolences for the loss of more than 360 UNRWA employees as a result of ongoing Israeli military operations, strongly condemning the violations targeting UNRWA facilities and personnel as blatant breaches of international law and international humanitarian law.
Minister Abdelatty reaffirmed Egypt’s unwavering support for UNRWA, stressing that the agency is an indispensable UN body, established by the General Assembly to provide relief and employment to Palestinian refugees until a just political settlement of the Palestinian issue is achieved. Such a settlement, he emphasized, must be based on the two-state solution and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
He further denounced Israeli legislation aimed at dismantling UNRWA’s presence in the occupied Palestinian territories, describing it as a dangerous precedent that undermines international law and weakens confidence in the international institutions established to maintain peace and security. He underscored Egypt’s categorical rejection of any proposals that would reduce the services provided by the agency or transfer them to other entities, while urging the international community to meet its political and financial commitments to support UNRWA’s mandate.
The Minister also reviewed Egypt’s ongoing efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid, while warning of the risks posed by settlement expansion in the West Bank. He highlighted the upcoming international conference that Egypt intends to host, in coordination with Palestine, the United Nations, and international partners, after a ceasefire is reached. The conference aims to mobilize support for early recovery and the reconstruction of Gaza, in line with the Arab reconstruction plan backed by the international community. Minister Abdelatty stressed that UNRWA is expected to play a vital role in providing essential services during the recovery phase and supporting the implementation of programs needed for reconstruction.
The meeting concluded with Minister Abdelatty’s affirmation of Egypt’s continued support for UNRWA in all possible ways, especially under the exceptional circumstances facing the region, while seeking the agency’s assessment of Gaza’s urgent needs during the relief and early recovery stages.
