CAIRO, Oct 20 (NNN-MENA) – Egyptian Foreign Minister, Sameh Shoukry, discussed yesterday, with visiting UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, ways to de-escalate the Israel-Hamas conflict and arrangements for humanitarian aid delivery to the besieged Gaza Strip.
In a joint press conference, following their meeting in Cairo, Shoukry said, he discussed with Guterres “the unprecedented escalation” of the ongoing conflict, echoing the UN’s call for an immediate cease-fire.
The talks came a day after Israel agreed to allow some humanitarian aid provided by Egypt, other countries and organisations into Gaza, via the Rafah crossing between Egypt and the Palestinian enclave, which is suffering a complete siege by Israel, and a lack of basic services and constant bombardment.
The Egyptian side of the crossing has many trucks loaded with tonnes of aid supplies recently donated by several countries and the World Health Organisation, waiting to cross into Gaza today, according to Egypt’s Al-Qahera News.
A Cairo peace summit, convened by Egyptian President, Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, which will be attended by Guterres, is scheduled for tomorrow, working on reaching de-escalation and cease-fire and reaffirming the importance of humanitarian aid delivery to Gaza, said Shoukry.
The Egyptian top diplomat described Israel’s targeting of humanitarian staff and premises as “a flagrant violation of the international humanitarian law.”
For his part, Guterres said, “For nearly two weeks, the people of Gaza are going without any shipments of fuel, food, water, medicine and other essentials.”
The UN chief referred to Egypt’s El Arish airport and the Rafah crossing as “our only hope,” adding, “they are the lifelines to the people of Gaza.”
Guterres also called on Hamas for an immediate and unconditional release of hostages, and called on Israel to allow immediate and unrestricted entry of humanitarian aid “to respond to the most basic needs of the people of Gaza.”
The UN chief said, the Palestinian legitimate grievances over 56 years of occupation do not justify Hamas’ attacks on Israel, and those attacks do not justify Israel’s collective punishment of the Palestinian people.– NNN-MENA
