Slovenia lauds Egypt's efforts to reach humanitarian pause, let in Gaza aid

CAIRO – 26 November 2023: Slovenian Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon lauded Egypt's efforts to reach a humanitarian pause, release Israeli detainees and Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails and let humanitarian assistance into the Gaza Strip.

She underlined the importance of Egypt's role to bring about peace and stability in the Middle East region.

Speaking to MENA, the Slovenian official said she held talks with President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry on the latest developments in Gaza and exchanged viewpoints over ways of handling the current conflict.

She added that they agreed on the need to reach a lasting ceasefire, provide protection for civilians and take tangible steps towards putting into effect the two-state solution.

She expressed hope of more dialogue within the coming period with different partners over the two-state solution, adding that she will deliver a statement on the situation in the Mideast during the coming session of the Security Council next week.

She made clear that Slovenia has become an observer in the Security Council as of October and will become a non-permanent member as of January.

She urged more efforts to put an end to the deteriorating situation and the humanitarian disaster in the Gaza Strip and growing violence in the West Bank.

Regarding the recognition of the Palestinian state, she stressed the importance of choosing the appropriate time to recognize the Palestinian state, saying discussions are now centered with partners in the European Union, America, Arab countries, and Israel on reaching a peace plan that could lead to the application of the two-state solution.

She said many countries in the world now see the urgent need to reach a two-state solution compared to their stance before October 7, and therefore efforts should be exerted to reach a plan that is acceptable to all and brings peace to the region. She added that there are no fundamental differences among the European countries on this issue but they are studying steps to be taken in this regard.

She said the EU is discussing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in its meetings and there are many different views on this issue but there is also a consensus on the framework EU foreign and security affairs official Josep Borrell announced which is made up of three “nos” and three “yeses,”.

What cannot happen, according to Borrell, is this: Gaza’s territory cannot be reduced, and Israeli Defense Forces cannot re-occupy Gaza permanently (although Hamas cannot return either); Palestinians cannot be forcibly displaced from Gaza; and Gaza cannot be dissociated from the overall Palestinian issue, but instead must be framed within the solution of Palestinian issues.

In terms of what should happen, Borrell believes that a Palestinian authority must return to Gaza, Arab countries should be more involved and the EU should show more commitment in the region.

About the presence of international forces in charge of security in Gaza, she said there are different opinions on this matter without going into much details but said the focus is currently on reaching a peace plan and taking tangible steps to implement it.

She expressed rejection of forced displacement of Palestinians from their lands, saying they have the right to live a decent life, underlining the importance of giving them access to food, water, fuel and electricity.

She underlined the need to hold those responsible for targeting civilians in Gaza accountable, saying what happened what a flagrant violation of the international law and the international humanitarian law.

What happened in Gaza is terrifying with more than 13,000 innocent Palestinian civilians being killed, including 6,000 children.

She expressed belief that the EU would be engaged in the political process to reach peace and would increase assistance for Gaza reconstruction.

At the end, the Slovenian official said her country is currently studying the possibility of providing psychological support to Palestinian children and rehabilitation when conditions improve, noting that her country has provided humanitarian aid worth more than two million euros in recent years to the UNRWA, the Palestinian Authority for Civilians, and the World Health Organization.