Egypt’s Minister of Defense meets delegation from US House Armed Services Committee

CAIRO – 19 February 2024: Lieutenant General Mohamed Zaki, the Commander-in-Chief of the Egyptian Armed Forces and Minister of Defense met with a delegation from the Armed Services Committee of the US House of Representatives, headed by Congressman Adam Smith Adam Smith, the committee’s minority leader, in Cairo on Monday.

The meeting discussed a number of issues related the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip, according to a statement from the Egyptian Ministry of Defense.

Both sides exchanged views on the necessity of not expanding the conflict in order to ensure that the foundations of security and stability in the Middle East are not destabilized.

They also discussed ways of expanding Egyptian efforts to achieve a ceasefire and truce, and to ensure a full and sustainable delivery of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian People in the Gaza Strip, the statement added.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry received Monday the delegation. Minister Shokry stressed that the current turbulent regional and international conditions mandate the reinforcement of the strategic partnership between the two countries in order to achieve peace and security. In that framework, he asserted the importance of pushing forward political, economic, trade, and military cooperation.

The minister also welcomed consolidating ties with members of the Congress – regardless of their affiliation – for the vital role they play to fulfill the joint U.S.-Egyptian interests. In that context, he underscored Egypt's rejection to the Israeli military operation in Palestinian Rafah as well as any ideas or measures that would incur the external displacement of Palestinians from Gaza Strip. 

Minister Shoukry underlined that Egypt considers no alternative to an immediate ceasefire and tangible steps to launch a serious peace process that would lead up to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state within a precise and short time frame.

Shoukry also showcased the role of the UNRWA in receiving and distributing humanitarian aid in Gaza, as well as the risks of the prolongation of the crisis on the expansion of the scope of the conflict and regional instability.   

The talks tackled the security, political and humanitarian aspects of the crisis in Gaza Strip so as the minister answered the U.S. representatives' questions about Egypt's vision on ending the war. In a related context, he presented Egypt's efforts to facilitate the entry of aid and override the obstacles set by Israel as well as mediation endeavors aimed at a truce that could turn into a permanent and full ceasefire.

Additional reporting by Noha El Tawil