Egypt’s FM highlights Arab, Islamic efforts in Security Council to enhance Gaza aid delivery

CAIRO – 14 December 2023: Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry highlighted on Thursday the efforts made by Egypt and the Arab and Islamic countries in the UN Security Council to adopt a resolution enhancing the ability of delivering humanitarian aid into Gaza.

Such efforts are made especially in light of the exacerbated humanitarian situation in the strip with the aim of removing obstacles related to the entry of aid, Shoukry said in a phone call with Moussa Faki, the African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson.

Last week, the United States has vetoed a resolution from Arab countries in the Security Council to implement an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, allowing Israeli deadly attacks to continue in the strip.

During the phone call with Faki, Shoukry asserted Egypt's constant readiness to offer all ways of support for the African Union Commission to actively undertake its responsibilities toward the continent.

The top Egyptian diplomat said he is looking forward to maintaining coordination and joint action to promote the integration agenda and attain the sustainable development goals in the African continent.

Moreover, Shoukry discussed with Faki latest developments in Sudan and topics on the agenda of the upcoming African summit. They discussed the efforts made by Sudan’s neighboring states, including Egypt to solve the crisis in Sudan.

Their discussions addressed the outputs of the recent summit of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and regional endeavors to solve the Sudanese crisis.

Both sides exchanged viewpoints concerning issues and files on the agenda of the next African summit and work mechanisms of the AU, in addition to ways of boosting cooperation between Egypt and the Commission in general.

Faki highlighted efforts exerted by the AU to find a political solution to the Sudanese crisis.