International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, Photo: UN official website
In a statement from the Foreign Ministry, Egypt said the annual observance is a crucial milestone for upholding justice and renewing the international political and moral commitment to the Palestinian people’s inalienable rights.
“The Palestinian right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent state is not just a political demand, but a historical entitlement enshrined in international law,” the statement read.
Egypt specified that this future state must be along the 4 June 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Turning to the situation in Gaza, Egypt underscored the immediate priority of consolidating the ceasefire in the strip and ensuring the “free and unconditional flow of humanitarian aid.”
Cairo stressed that these actions must align with United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 2803 and the international consensus reached at the Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Summit, following mediation by Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and the US.
Resolution 2803, adopted recently, formally endorses President Trump’s peace plan and authorizes the deployment of a temporary International Stabilization Force (ISF) and a Board of Peace to oversee security and transitional governance in Gaza.
Egypt considers such steps necessary for launching a comprehensive political process to restore the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.
The statement also noted that Egypt is maintaining close coordination with the US and regional partners to support the full implementation of Trump’s plan.
The plan’s first phase, including the current ceasefire, the release of hostages for Palestinian detainees, and a partial Israeli withdrawal, has been violated over 300 times by Israel since it went into effect on 10 October.
Egypt’s current efforts are focused on advancing the subsequent phases, which envision a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and the establishment of a permanent ceasefire.
Egypt, according to the statement, is coordinating with regional and international partners to alleviate the acute humanitarian crisis in Gaza and create the conditions for lasting calm and stability. This includes opening a political horizon that addresses the "root causes of the conflict."
The statement further emphasized the central and essential role of the Palestinian Authority (PA) and the territorial unity of all Palestinian lands as foundational elements for any sustainable settlement.
Israel's two-year genocidal war on Gaza has killed nearly 70,000 Palestinians since it broke out in October 2023, and destroyed much of the strip’s infrastructure, prompting several nations to recognize Palestine, bringing the total number of recognizing states to 159.
Palestine currently holds non-member observer state status at the UN, granted in 2012, which does not include full membership rights such as voting in the General Assembly.
Full UN membership requires a recommendation from the Security Council followed by a General Assembly vote.
In April 2024, the US, a permanent member of the Security Council, vetoed Palestine’s bid for full membership.
Observed annually at UN offices worldwide, the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People was established by a 1977 UN General Assembly resolution.
Each year, the UN uses this occasion to call for immediate action to secure Palestinian sovereignty and independence.
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