FM Shoukry: Egypt and partners strive for ceasefire in Gaza before Ramadan

CAIRO – 1 March 2024: Egypt is making every effort with its partners to reach a ceasefire before the holy month of Ramadan, despite the limited time available, Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry said today.

Shoukry made the remarks during a session dedicated to address the situation in Gaza as part of the Antalya Diplomatic Forum hosted Turkey in the presence of both the Palestinian and Turkish foreign ministers.

Ramadan starts this year around March 10 amid Israeli plans to implement a ground invasion of Gaza, a globally-rejected operation in a city that is currently housing more than half of Gaza’s 2.3 million population.

Shoukry emphasized the severe crisis faced by the strip, stressing the responsibility of the international community to alleviate the suffering of civilians.

In this regard, he called for activating the UN mechanism for facilitating and monitoring the entry of humanitarian aid to Gaza, in implementation of Security Council Resolution 2720.

 

Shoukry highlighted Egypt's commitment to keeping the Rafah crossing open since October 8. However, he noted that the continuous Egyptian efforts to deliver aid to the Gaza Strip have faced obstacles preventing the access of such assistance.

Moreover, Shoukry addressed the challenges facing the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) due to the suspension of financial contributions by some donor countries.

This situation hinders the agency's work and increases the burden on it, exacerbating the humanitarian tragedy in the Gaza Strip, Shoukry said.

Shoukry warned of the negative consequences of any Israeli military operation on the ground in the Palestinian city of Rafah, as it would lead to a significant escalation of the humanitarian catastrophe suffered by civilians in the strip.

He also expressed Egypt's concerns regarding the deteriorating field conditions in the West Bank, with the increasing frequency of Israeli military incursions.

Striving for ceasefire

With the holy month of Ramadan fast approaching, negotiators from Egypt, Qatar, Israel, and the United States have been discussing the terms of a potential ceasefire in Gaza to end nearly five months of aggression.

The Israeli war in Gaza has been ongoing since October 7, and both Israel and Hamas have yet to reach a reliable understanding for a ceasefire and a prisoner deal to free more than 100 captives in the strip.

Head of Egypt’s General Intelligence Service (GIS) Abbas Kamel, Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul-Rahman Al Thani, CIA Director William Burns and Israeli Mossad Director David Barnea have been engaged in ceasefire negotiations in Paris, Cairo, and soon in Doha.

Egypt is starting a visit to Doha tonight as part of a Gulf tour, where he will meet with Foreign Minister Al Thani on Saturday, according to the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Read our article for more information about the ongoing negotiations aimed at a ceasefire and a prisoner swap agreement.