"The displacement of the Palestinians is utterly rejected internationally; yet Israeli measures continue to push for it," he said, noting that countries opposing this forced deportation are not undertaking the needful measures to prevent it.

Shoukry's remarks came during his participation in the meetings of the Union for the Mediterranean Regional Forum in the Spanish city of Barcelona, which is dedicated this year to discussing the situation in the Gaza Strip.

"European countries need to play a leading role in recognizing a Palestinian state," he said during the meeting snubbed by Israel. 

He emphasized that the expression "Israel's legitimate right to self-defense" cannot be applied to an occupying force oppressing and isolating a subjugated population.

Shoukry further added that a ceasefire in Gaza will not be achieved unless Israel acknowledges its vested interest in it, stressing that achieving this goal necessitates international pressure on Israel.

He also underscored that the humanitarian situation necessitates an urgent ceasefire, particularly considering the distressing impact on the lives of children in Gaza, surpassing casualties from all conflicts since 2009. 

The death toll of Palestinians killed by Israel in Gaza nears 15,000, including at least 6150 children and 4000 women.

Shoukry highlighted the significant obstruction by Israel, resulting in a limited flow of aid into Gaza.

As a response, Arab and Muslim nations have proposed a draft resolution to the United Nations Security Council which aimed at addressing this critical issue, he said.

Egypt's top diplomat strongly condemned the escalating assaults and violence by Israeli settlers in the West Bank, "posing a threat to regional peace."

He reiterated the prior warning of Egypt and the Arab League within the Union for the Mediterranean framework regarding "the dangers of managing the conflict rather than seeking a resolution to the Palestinian issue, based on the two-state solution and in accordance with international legitimacy resolutions."

The Union for the Mediterranean is an intergovernmental organization formed by the 27 members of the EU and 16 of the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean, including Israel, Palestine — represented by the Palestinian Authority, Egypt, Lebanon, and Jordan.

During the Arab-Muslim Ministerial Committee meeting with the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs José Manuel Albares on the sidelines of the forum, Shoukry expressed his thanks to Spain for its stance in supporting the Palestinian cause.

"The time had come for the international community and the EU to once and for all recognize a Palestinian state," Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said during a trip along with his Belgian counterpart to Israel, the Palestinian territories, and Egypt last week. This prompted Israel to recall its ambassadors to Spain and Belgium.

The committee, of which Shoukry is a member, includes Palestinian Minister of Foreign Affairs Riyad Al-Maliki, Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Faisal bin Farhan, Jordanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ayman Safadi, Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan, and Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Abul Gheit.

The ministerial committee was formed to garner international support for the emergency decisions of the recent Arab-Islamic Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to halt the ongoing war in Gaza and tackle the deteriorating humanitarian conditions in the strip.

Shoukry is scheduled to travel to New York on 28 November, to join other committee members in a briefing ministerial-level session held by the UNSC, to address the situation in the Middle East and the developments in the Gaza Strip.