Poland thanks Egypt for facilitating repatriation of body of Polish relief worker killed by Israel in Gaza

CAIRO – 18 April 2024: Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry received a phone call from his Polish counterpart Radoslaw Sikorski on Thursday, said the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement.

During the call, the Polish Foreign Minister conveyed Warsaw’s profound gratitude to Egypt for facilitating the repatriation of the body of a Polish citizen who was tragically killed by an Israeli operation targeting workers of the World Central Kitchen Association in Gaza.

Sikorski commended Cairo for its relentless efforts across all levels and engagements with various stakeholders to address the ongoing crisis in the Gaza Strip. He underscored Egypt's dedication to achieving a ceasefire and alleviating the humanitarian plight affecting the strip.

Minister Shoukry also conveyed Egypt's gratitude for Poland's support of the Egyptian healthcare facilities engaged in treating injured Palestinians. He stressed that this assistance, facilitated through the Government Agency for Strategic Precautions and coordinated by the Egyptian Ministry of Health via the European Union mechanism UCPM, is deeply appreciated by Egypt.

During their conversation, the two ministers discussed plans to convene the inaugural session of the Egyptian-Polish Economic Committee in Warsaw in December 2024. The committee will be chaired by the Minister of International Cooperation from Egypt and the Polish Minister of Development and Technology.

Additionally, they addressed the prospect of organizing a fresh round of consultations between Egypt and Poland, to be led by the assistant foreign ministers of both nations. These consultations are anticipated to take place in Cairo later this year.

Moreover, Minister Shoukry delved into the latest developments concerning all facets of the ongoing crisis in the Gaza Strip. He reaffirmed Egypt’s steadfast stance, emphasizing the urgent need for immediate and responsible action to address the escalating humanitarian crisis in the region. Shoukry underscored the significance of concerting efforts to prevent the conflict from spreading further, as such escalation poses a grave threat to the security and stability of the entire region.

The Foreign Minister highlighted the urgency of securing an immediate and lasting ceasefire in Gaza and the importance of ensuring unimpeded access for humanitarian aid to reach the Palestinian people in Gaza safely and without hindrance.

Shoukry also reiterated Egypt's call for the full implementation of Security Council Resolution No. 2720, as well as all relevant resolutions issued by the Security Council and the United Nations General Assembly pertaining to this matter.

Lastly, he emphatically expressed Egypt's unequivocal rejection of any military operation in Palestinian Rafah, highlighting the severe humanitarian consequences such actions would entail.