Egypt FM discusses Gaza humanitarian crisis with Saudi, Dutch counterparts
Egypt’s foreign minister, Badr Abdelatty, held phone calls on Monday with his Saudi and Dutch counterparts, Faisal bin Farhan and David van Weel, to discuss the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza and Cairo's efforts to broker an immediate ceasefire in the strip.
File photo: Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty (L) Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan (M) Dutch Foreign Minister David van Weel (R)
In his conversation with bin Farhan, the two sides reiterated their rejection of Israel’s war on Gaza, accusing it of “systematic starvation” and “crimes against the defenceless Palestinian people,” according to a statement from the Egyptian foreign ministry.
They also condemned Israel's illegal settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank as a “grave violation of international law.”
The ministers additionally discussed the war in Sudan, with Abdelatty affirming Cairo’s support for Sudanese state institutions and calling for an immediate ceasefire to ease civilian suffering.
In a separate call with van Weel, Abdelatty repeated Egypt’s rejection of Israel’s “crimes in Gaza” and its obstruction of aid deliveries, saying the blockade had caused “an unprecedented catastrophic deterioration of the humanitarian situation reaching the level of famine.”
He cited the presence of 5,000 aid trucks stranded at the border.
Abdelatty urged the international community to intervene to halt what he described as Israel’s “brutal war” and “policy of starvation against innocent civilians.”
For his part, van Weel stressed the Netherlands’ commitment to strengthening ties with Egypt and said his government would take all necessary security measures to protect foreign embassies, including Egypt’s mission.
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