Josep Borrel expresses readiness to actively participate in all efforts aimed at ending war in Gaza

CAIRO – 28 April 2024: On the sidelines of the World Economic Forum held in Riyadh, Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shokry met Sunday with High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrel.

The two sides welcomed the political declaration signed in March by Egypt and the European Union on upgrading relations to the strategic and comprehensive level. They also commended the high-level continuous coordination on various international and regional affairs. 

The meeting was mainly focused on the Gaza War as Minister Shokry and EU Representative Borrel discussed in details the security and humanitarian conditions. They exchanged assessments of the situation and the outcome of their communication with different regional and international actors working to end the war and put a limit to the humanitarian suffering of residents.

The Egyptian minister presented to Mr. Borrel the updates of the current negotiations between Hamas and Israel to accomplish an immediate ceasefire, hostage exchange, and sufficient aid delivery.

The two sides reiterated rejection to an Israeli military land operation in Palestinian Rafah. In that regard, Minister Shokry stressed the importance of the EU's pressure on Israel to cancel that plan and stop attempts of forced displacement of Palestinians and Palestinian Cause liquidation.

Minister Shokry underscored that Egypt counted on the EU's high representative to create a unified strong European stance that advocates for a ceasefire, elimination of Israeli obstacles crippling the delivery of sufficient quantities of aid, and abstention from unilateral acts in Gaza Strip, West Bank and Jerusalem.  

The minister also noted that working towards a ceasefire must go in tandem with attaining the two-state solution, which involves establishing a Palestinian State on the borders of June 4, 1967 having as capital Eastern Jerusalem.  

In turn, the high representative of the European Union for foreign affairs and security policy affirmed the EU's support to the Egyptian pivotal role in ending the war in Gaza Strip and containing its repercussions on different levels. He also expressed readiness to actively participate in all efforts targeted at bringing that wild war to an end.