Egyptian, Saudi FMs reject Israel’s ground offensive against Rafah

CAIRO – 22 February 2024: Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and his Saudi counterpart Faisal bin Farhan emphasized the urgent need for the delivery of humanitarian aid to alleviate the daily suffering of the Palestinians. They also unequivocally rejected any Israeli military ground offensive against the city of Rafah and condemned attempts to forcibly displace Palestinians from their land.

Both ministers met on February 21, on the sidelines of the G20 foreign ministers meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, according to a statement issued by Egyptian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid.

Abu Zeid added that the two ministers exchanged comprehensive assessments and perspectives of the developments of the Israeli war against the Gaza Strip, discussing necessary actions within the frameworks of the Arab League and multilateral cooperation to alleviate this crisis.

In this context, Minister Shoukry highlighted the legal and humanitarian obligations of international parties to halt the conflict against the Gaza Strip and achieve an immediate ceasefire. He condemned the Security Council's repeated failure on February 20 to issue a ceasefire resolution, following the US representative's veto against the Algerian-submitted resolution. This failure raises questions about the feasibility and credibility of the international system's rules and mechanisms.

Abu Zeid further mentioned that the ministers' discussions addressed escalating tensions in the region, particularly in light of the situation in Gaza, which included threats to maritime security in the Red Sea.

They underscored the importance of maintaining communication with various parties to support ceasefire efforts and prevent the conflict from escalating to reach other countries in the region, thereby safeguarding regional and international peace and security.

Moreover, the ministers agreed to continue coordinating to address the Gaza Strip crisis and mitigate its repercussions on all levels. They also committed to containing and preventing the escalation of violence in other countries of the region.