Blinken: We are grateful to Egypt, Red Cross for urging Hamas to release hostages

CAIRO – 24 October 2023: US secretary of state Antony Blinken said that his country will continue to coordinate with Egypt and other partners in the region to deliver Humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.

“We are grateful to Egypt and the International Committee of the Red Cross for urging Hamas to release the hostages, but there are still many hostages being held.” Blinken said in his speech at the security council session on the developments at the Middle east.

He added that the US believe in the necessity of protecting all civilians, regardless of their faith or gender. Therefore, “we regret the killing of any civilian.”

Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said on Tuesday that the currant events in Gaza came as a result of continuing attempts of Israel to steal the Palestinian lands and create new geographical reality.

“It is important for everyone to realize that the moment we are currently living did not come out of nowhere, but rather was an accumulation as a result of continuing attempts to stealing lands and creating new geographical reality.” Shoukry said.

He added that the solution to the Palestinian conflict is not internal displacement, nor the displacement of an entire people to another region, ‘but rather it is justice for them to live in an independent state.’

Shoukry affirmed that the Palestinians will not leave their land, and Egypt will not accept any attempts for displacement.

Egypt’s Foreign Minister added: “History proves that the Palestinian cause has not been forgotten, or dead. But has remained steadfast. And all that the world has gained in terms of postponing the solution to the conflict has caused a lot of pain to Israel, Palestine, and the entire region.”

He also expressed his regret over ‘the duplicity with which the world deals with Gaza crises, especially the humanitarian side of it, as if the lives of the Palestinians were inferior and not worth defending.’

Shoukry called on the council states ‘before it is too late’, to announce an immediate and sustainable ceasefire without restrictions or conditions.