CAIRO: The Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry discussed with Joao Cravinho, minister of foreign affairs of Portugal, the latest developments in the Gaza Strip and the international efforts necessary to stop the war and contain its repercussions.
According to Ahmed Abu Zeid, spokesman for the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Shoukry received a phone call from Cravinho, during which they discussed in detail the deteriorating humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip.
The two ministers agreed on the necessity of fully and immediately implementing the provisions of the recent UN Security Council resolution, which includes establishing a UN mechanism, to accelerate and monitor the process of accessing humanitarian aid to the enclave to address the urgent needs of the Palestinian people.
Shoukry discussed the need for international parties to assume their responsibilities to help reach a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, as it is the best way to effectively implement the provisions of the Security Council in this regard.
The Portuguese minister expressed his country’s aspiration to achieve a ceasefire as soon as possible.
Shoukry stressed the need to stop the Israeli violations regarding collective punishment of Palestinian civilians, including targeting, besieging, forced displacement, and the destruction of the basic services system in the Gaza Strip.
The two ministers also discussed the situation in the occupied West Bank and the increasing rate of violence and violations by Israeli settlers against Palestinians and their property.
In this regard, Shoukry warned of the security and political repercussions of entering into a new vicious cycle of violence in the West Bank.
He urged the international community to take the necessary steps to end settler violence and hold those responsible to account, as well as to halt all illegal settlement activities.
The two ministers agreed to continue consultation during the coming period regarding measures to contain the crisis in Gaza, limit its repercussions, and prevent the conflict from expanding to other parts of the region.
