Shoukry Reaffirms Egypt's Opposition to Forced Displacement of Palestinians from Gaza

CAIRO – 23 March 2024: During his meeting with Singaporean counterpart Vivian Balakrishnan in Cairo on Saturday, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry reiterated Egypt's concern regarding the worsening humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.

He emphatically rejected any scenarios aimed at forcibly displacing the population of Gaza, undermining the Palestinian cause, or invading the Palestinian city of Rafah, according to a statement released by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid.

The meeting touched on in detail a number of regional and international issues of common concern, most notably the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip, where the two ministers discussed ways to advance the truce efforts to reach a permanent ceasefire.

Shoukry tackled the latest developments in the situation in the Gaza Strip, the humanitarian catastrophe that the Strip’s population has been experiencing since the outbreak of the war, and the efforts made by Egypt to facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, as well as mediation to reach a ceasefire.

The Foreign Ministers’ meeting also addressed the repercussions of the current crisis on the security of the Red Sea, and the resulting serious threats to international shipping movement.

The Foreign Minister of Singapore emphasized the critical importance of maintaining the safe and sustainable flow of navigation in the Suez Canal. He highlighted that this is a top priority for his country, as the canal serves as the preferred route for transporting Singapore's private trade to Europe.

The Egyptian Foreign Minister reaffirmed Cairo’s strong commitment to maximizing the benefits for Singaporean companies from investment opportunities in Egypt.

He specifically highlighted significant projects such as the Suez Canal development corridor, which offers vast investment opportunities including logistical activities, port management, and transit trade.