Israeli escalation in Gaza cannot be justified as self-defense: Egyptian FM to U.S. Envoy

CAIRO – 29 October 2023: Minister of Foreign Sameh Shokry received Sunday at the ministry's headquarters in Cairo U.S. Special Envoy for Middle East Humanitarian Issues David Satterfield to confer over the humanitarian situation in Gaza Strip and intensify coordination for the delivery of aid in an immediate and sustainable way.

 

Minister Shokry underscored the magnitude of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where the death toll exceeded 7,500 within three weeks. He stressed the necessity of a serious and organized international action to attain a truce that would achieve protection to civilians who are enduring the repercussions of the escalation that cannot be justified as self-defense or combating terrorism.

The minister presented the ongoing collaboration between Egypt and international aid organizations, urging the elimination of obstacles put by the Israeli side through international pressure. He equally underscored that alleviating the humanitarian crisis is not just bound to the delivery of aid. Rather, it must be coupled with not expanding the Israeli ground operations in Gaza.

In that context, the Egyptian minister warned of the devastating impact of that scenario as the conflict might reach a regional level.

On his side, Satterfield expressed the United States' appreciation for the Egyptian role in delivering aid to Gaza Strip, as well as for the current bilateral cooperation aimed at alleviating the humanitarian suffering endured by civilians in Gaza.