Aid delivery to Gaza must resume: Shoukry to Blinken
Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry stressed on Monday the importance of resuming deliveries of aid to the Gaza Strip after Israel halted access through the Rafah Border Crossing in recent days, during a phone call with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
According to the Egyptian foreign ministry, Shoukry reiterated the dire humanitarian repercussions that will affect more than 1.4 million Palestinians in Rafah as a result of the closure of the border crossing and the ongoing wide-scale Israeli attacks.
Egypt's top diplomat also stressed the serious security risks resulting from the ongoing Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip, especially in the Palestinian city of Rafah, and the relevant threats to regional stability.
During the call, both sides had in-depth discussions about the humanitarian and security consequences of the Israeli military operations in Rafah and the Israeli control over the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing and the prevention of the entry of humanitarian aid.
Furthermore, they emphasized the importance of opening the land crossings between Israel and the Gaza Strip and delivering sufficient humanitarian aid to meet the urgent needs of its residents, reaffirming their rejection of attempts to displace Palestinians from their lands.
In addition, both sides agreed to continue close consultation and coordination on the developments of the crisis in the Gaza Strip and to support ways to contain its repercussions and prevent escalation and further expansion of violence across the region.
On Sunday, Egypt announced its intention to officially intervene in support of South Africa’s genocide case against Israel over its war in the Gaza Strip at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
The Egyptian foreign ministry stated that Egypt’s decision to intervene in the lawsuit comes in light of the escalating severity and scope of Israeli attacks against Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip.
Since 7 October, Israeli forces have killed 35,091 people, injured 78,827, caused extensive damage to Gaza's infrastructure, and displaced most of the strip’s residents.
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