Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration, and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdelatty receives the United Nations Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza, Sigrid Kaag, in Cairo, 18 July, 2024. Photo: Egyptian Foreign Ministry
During a meeting in Cairo, Abdelatty affirmed Egypt's willingness to coordinate efforts for implementing the UN Security Council Resolution No. 2720 regarding aid delivery, to alleviate the Palestinian people's suffering under that unprecedented humanitarian crisis.
He further voiced Egypt's deep concern about the worsening humanitarian situation in the strip after 10 months of systematic Israeli attacks and aggression against Palestinians, highlighting the widespread violations of international law and international humanitarian law.
According to a foreign ministry statement, Abdelatty assured Kaag that Egypt has been tirelessly working to ensure the flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza through the Rafah border crossing since the conflict began.
However, the military escalation in Rafah and Israeli control over the Palestinian side of the crossing have halted the entry of aid, he noted, stressing the importance of Israeli forces' withdrawal from Rafah and the Palestinian Authority (PA) managing the crossing.
Furthermore, Abdelatty urged Kaag to identify the challenges hindering the entry and distribution of aid in the strip and find effective solutions per UNSC Resolution No. 2720.
During the meeting, he also condemned Israel's attacks on aid workers and their facilities in Gaza, which obstruct their efforts and force them to suspend relief operations, especially amid the increasing humanitarian needs in the strip.
In addition, Abdelatty underscored the role of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) as the cornerstone of humanitarian response efforts in Gaza.
He also emphasized the importance of coordination with the PA to facilitate the UN official's work and carry out any early reconstruction arrangements in Gaza.
The discussions included a detailed assessment of various aid delivery methods, with Abdelatty reaffirming Egypt's commitment to ongoing coordination with the UN official and both sides agreeing to maintain consultations in the coming period.
For her part, Kaag highlighted the importance of a political framework for her mandate in Gaza to enable her to fulfil her duties effectively.
She also reviewed her recent efforts to deliver aid to Gaza, noting that continued military operations and security instability in the strip pose significant challenges to her tasks.
Kaag thanked Egypt for its ongoing efforts to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, emphasising her commitment to working with Egypt on resuming aid delivery and initiating the reconstruction process once military operations cease.
On 7 May, Israel launched its assault on Rafah, taking over the Palestinian side of the crossing between Gaza and Egypt for the first time since Israel pulled out its soldiers and settlers from the strip in 2005.
Egypt has demanded the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Palestinian side of the crossing, stressing that only the Egyptians and Palestinians have the right to manage the crossing.
Not a single aid truck has entered Gaza through the Rafah crossing since the Israeli forces' incursion into the Palestinian side of the crossing.
Over the past weeks, Egypt has coordinated with the UN to facilitate the entry of several trucks into the Gaza Strip through the Karm Abu Salem border crossing.
Israel, whose brutal war on Gaza has continued for nearly ten months, is facing mounting international pressure to agree to a Gaza ceasefire
Since the war began on 7 October, Israeli occupation forces have killed 38,848 people, injured 89,459, caused extensive damage to Gaza's infrastructure, and displaced most of the strip’s residents.
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