Egypt’s foreign minister says the international community must “shoulder its responsibility” to push for a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip and to turn up the pressure on getting larger quantities of much needed humanitarian aid to the Palestinian enclave. Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry says the international community and especially aid donor countries should also throw their full support behind UNRWA, the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees whose role in providing assistance and services to Palestinians in Gaza and elsewhere in the region is “indispensable
Quick Read
- Egypt Calls for International Action: Egypt’s Foreign Minister emphasizes the global community’s duty to advocate for a ceasefire in Gaza and enhance humanitarian aid delivery.
- Support for UNRWA Urged: Sameh Shoukry stresses the crucial role of UNRWA in aiding Palestinian refugees and calls for unwavering support from donor countries, despite recent controversies.
- US and Donors Halt UNRWA Funding: Following Israel’s accusations against UNRWA, the U.S. and other contributors have paused new aid, awaiting a UN inquiry’s outcome.
- Humanitarian Aid Prioritized: Shoukry highlights the critical need for humanitarian aid in Gaza, stating it should not be delayed by ceasefire negotiations.
- Dire Situation in Gaza: The displacement of 1.3 million Palestinians in southern Gaza exacerbates the crisis, with UNICEF reporting significant child casualties and orphanhood.
The Associated Press has the story:
Egypt urges international community to ‘shoulder responsibility’ for cease-fire in Gaza
Newslooks- NICOSIA, Cyprus — (AP)
Egypt’s foreign minister says the international community must “shoulder its responsibility” to push for a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip and to turn up the pressure on getting larger quantities of much needed humanitarian aid to the Palestinian enclave.
Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry says the international community and especially aid donor countries should also throw their full support behind UNRWA, the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees whose role in providing assistance and services to Palestinians in Gaza and elsewhere in the region is “indispensable.”
Shoukry said after talks Thursday with Cypriot counterpart Constantinos Kombos that his country believes the UNRWA’s role “should not be tainted by any misactions of the few” that resulted in restricting support for the organization.
The U.S. and other donor nations have suspended new assistance to UNRWA pending completion of a U.N. investigation into Israeli allegations of alleged hostility toward Israel and that a dozen of its employees took part in the Oct. 7 Hamas attack that ignited the war.
Replying to a question by the Associated Press, Shoukry said providing humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza prior to any cease-fire is of “fundamental importance.” But that shouldn’t detract from the necessity to enact an immediate cessation of hostilities which would help expedite delivery of larger aid quantities.
Egypt’s top diplomat said the displacement of 1.3 million Palestinians to the south of Gaza is compounding conditions of famine, lack of medical supplies and deteriorating sanitary conditions. He cited figures from the U.N. agency for children, UNICEF, which said that 17,000 children in Gaza have lost either one or both parents.
