Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty. Photo: AFP
Abdelatty’s remarks came during a recorded speech at the G20 foreign ministers meeting, held in Johannesburg on 20-21 February under South Africa’s presidency.
During his speech, the Egyptian FM pointed out that unilateral actions, such as land annexation, settlement activities, violations of holy sites, and military incursions, only deepen the conflict and hinder peace efforts.
He highlighted Egypt's ongoing efforts, in collaboration with international partners, to maintain the Gaza ceasefire deal and ensure the urgent and unobstructed delivery of humanitarian aid to the Palestinians across the strip.
Abdelatty also stressed that the 16-month Israeli aggression on Gaza has led to catastrophic consequences, including disruptions to global trade and maritime navigation.
Additionally, the Egyptian FM noted that Cairo is finalizing a comprehensive plan for early recovery and reconstruction in Gaza in coordination with the Palestinian Authority.
This plan aims to address the humanitarian crisis and the massive destruction in Gaza while ensuring that the Palestinian people remain in their homeland, he added.
Abdelatty also pointed to Egypt’s hosting of a Gaza reconstruction conference in partnership with the United Nations (UN), expressing hope for broad participation from international partners in this significant event.
He reiterated Egypt’s rejection of any attempts to displace Palestinians, stressing that such actions undermine the two-state solution, further escalating the conflict and threatening regional security and stability.
The G20, a grouping of 19 countries and the European Union (EU) and the African Union (AU), accounts for more than 80 percent of global GDP and two-thirds of the world's population.
South Africa, the first African country to lead the forum, took over the G20 presidency last year, a move meant to encourage wealthy nations to listen to vulnerable counterparts.
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