Egypt FM discusses facilitating relief aid access to Gaza with UNRWA commissioner, UN peace coordinator

Merna Hesham , Ahram Online , Wednesday 11 Oct 2023

Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry warned against the repercussions of applying collective punishment, starvation, and blockade measures on the Gaza Strip in violation of international humanitarian law, “due to their severe impact on the deterioration of the humanitarian conditions of civilians.”

Egypt FM Sameh Shoukry meets with UN Special Coordinator Tor Wennesland and UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini. Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Shoukry’s statement came in Cairo on Wednesday during his meeting with Tor Wennesland, the UN coordinator for the Middle East peace process, and Philippe Lazzarini, the commissioner-general for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), read a statement by the Foreign Ministry.

During the meeting, the officials addressed the serious humanitarian repercussions in Gaza as well as providing protection for civilians and ensuring regular access of services and humanitarian aid to Gazans.

Israel has imposed a total siege on the Gaza Strip since Monday, cutting off food, water, and electricity, worsening the already dire humanitarian situation of the 2.3 million residents of Gaza.

Shoukry’s discussions with the UN officials addressed ways to alleviate the human suffering endured by the Palestinian people under the continuous Israeli bombardment, the statement said.

Shoukry reiterated Egypt's full support for the relevant international bodies in their vital role to ensure the continuity of essential services and the delivery of humanitarian aid to the residents of the Gaza Strip.

Bombing UNRWA school in Gaza

Shoukry expressed Egypt's deep concern regarding the Israeli shelling of the UNRWA school housing displaced families in the Gaza Strip.

The officials agreed on the necessity of "respecting the special status of UNRWA's facilities and premises in the region,” given their importance in providing essential services to Palestinians and a safe haven for civilians in such challenging circumstances.

Shoukry stressed Egypt's unwavering stance on the pillars of a solution for the Palestinian cause, noting that Egypt has previously highlighted the risks of the absence of a solution and the escalation of tensions among the Palestinian people.

“This underscores that a comprehensive and just solution to the Palestinian cause is the only guarantee for achieving peace and peaceful coexistence between the Palestinian and Israeli sides, in accordance with the two-state solution,” Egypt’s top diplomat said.

The 2.3 million residents of Giza have been denied access to humanitarian aid delivery due to Israel's strikes on the Gaza side of the Rafah border crossing, which is the only link between the Strip and Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula.

Palestinian sources at the Rafah crossing told Ahram Online that the Israeli forces bombed the road to the crossing twice, the latest of which was on Tuesday morning.

Earlier, Israeli media outlet N12 reported that Israel informed Egypt that it would strike any aid trucks entering Gaza via Rafah.

Israel announced a “state of war” on Saturday and has been relentlessly striking Gaza after Hamas fighters launched Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, an unprecedented attack on Israeli cities via land, air, and sea, killing over 1,000 Israelis so far and taking tens others as captives.

On the other side, 1,055 Palestinians were killed and 5,184 injured by Israeli bombings by Wednesday afternoon, according to the Palestinian health ministry.