Egypt pins hope on UK to pressure Israel to abandon Rafah offensive: Shoukry to Cameron

MENA , Ahram Online , Friday 23 Feb 2024

Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry told his British counterpart David Cameron that Egypt pins high hopes on the UK to exercise pressure on Israel to drop its plans for a ground offensive in Rafah.

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Foreign minister Sameh Shoukry with his British counterpart David Cameron on the sidelines of the G20 meetings in Brazil. Photo : Egyptian Foreign Ministry

 

This came during a meeting between the two top diplomats on the sidelines of the foreign ministers meeting of G20 in Rio de Janeiro.

Shoukry urged the UK to encourage Israel to engage in the international efforts meant to end the Gaza war and reach an immediate ceasefire, according to a statement by the Egyptian foreign ministry.

Shoukry expressed to Cameron regret over Western countries' disregard for the enormity of the humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip. He also underlined the importance of the role played by the UNRWA to provide life-saving assistance to the Palestinians.

According to the statement, both officials stressed the need to ensure unrestricted entry of humanitarian assistance to ease the tragic humanitarian disaster endured by the Gazans.

Shoukry also held a separate meeting with Audrey Azoulay, the Director General of UNESCO, on Thursday, where they touched on the developments of the Gaza war.

The Egyptian foreign minister highlighted the suffering endured by Gaza’s population, including schoolchildren and journalists, according to a foreign ministry statement.

He also underlined the damage inflicted on the Israeli war to Islamic and Christian places of worship on the strip as a result of the Israeli war, slamming in this regard the double standards adopted by some Western countries regarding the crisis.

Meanwhile, the UN official expressed her gratitude to Egypt for its continuous efforts in pushing for an immediate ceasefire and the unfettered delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza.

According to the foreign ministry, Audrey Azoulay mentioned in this regard that UNESCO is preparing a plan to support Gaza within its mandate.

She expressed her aspiration to receive Egypt's support in implementing this plan.

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