Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Vice President, Hussein al-Sheikh (L) during his meeting with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty (R) in Cairo. Photo by Egyptian Foreign Ministry.
The statement came during Abdelatty’s meeting with Hussein Al-Sheikh, the recently appointed vice president of the PA and a senior Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) official, on Saturday, during his first visit to Egypt since taking office on 27 April.
According to Egypt’s foreign ministry, Abdelatty reaffirmed his country’s active role in mediating a Gaza ceasefire in coordination with Qatar and the United States. He stressed support for rebuilding Palestinian governance through reforms led by the PA.
The talks also covered early recovery efforts and the Arab-Islamic plan for Gaza reconstruction, which was prepared by Egypt and presented in Cairo last March.
Abdelatty reviewed Egypt’s preparations to host an international conference on Gaza’s rebuilding in partnership with the United Nations and the Palestinian government.
He reiterated Egypt’s call for a credible political process to advance a two-state solution based on pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as the capital of a future Palestinian state, describing it as the only path to lasting peace.
Al-Sheikh praised Egypt’s role in ceasefire mediation and efforts to break Israel's siege on Gaza, as the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate.
The Gaza aid crisis
Abdelatty condemned Israel’s weaponization of starvation for the collective punishment of Palestinians and emphasized Egypt’s commitment to securing the flow of aid into Gaza, where conditions have reached what aid agencies describe as their worst since the war began.
Abdelatty stressed Cairo’s commitment to ensuring the flow of humanitarian assistance amid the worsening humanitarian crisis in the Strip.
Humanitarian groups blame Israel’s total blockade, imposed in early March, for halting vital food and medical supplies to the 2.3 million residents of the enclave.
A US-led initiative announced in early May, which seeks to deliver aid via an international mechanism bypassing Hamas, has drawn criticism from the UN and aid groups, who argue it undermines core humanitarian principles.
According to US Ambassador Mike Huckabee, Israel would retain military oversight but not participate in aid distribution.
Instead, a newly established foundation will coordinate delivery to restore aid flows.
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