Egypt’s Foreign Ministry has condemned statements made by the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Robert Serry, describing Egypt’s policies as “failed” regarding the Gaza strip.
Serry expressed “deep concern” that not enough progress has been made to address Gaza’s underlying issues and “the frustration of the people in Gaza”, due to the slow paced reconstruction process.
Serry’s statement on Monday referred to Gaza’s isolation owing to the closure of the Israeli and Rafah crossings.
Serry also urged “all stakeholders, including the Government of National Consensus GNC, Palestinian factions, Israel, Egypt, the international community and donors, to change their failed policies and adopt a “Gaza first” strategy”.
The Foreign Ministry statement noted that Serry holds Egypt responsible for his “failure” to accomplish his mission. It referred to Serry’s “inability” to negotiate with Israeli officials to remove the blockade by opening one of the six crossings leading to Gaza, to provide it with basic needs and materials for reconstruction.
The Foreign Ministry stressed Egypt’s right to take the “necessary measures” to protect and secure its borders referring to the closure of the crossing.
Egypt hosted the Gaza reconstruction conference last October, which saw several countries pledge money to Gaza. This included the US, which pledged grants worth $212m, out of which “only a small percentage” has been distributed, according to Serry’s statement.
The conference was held following a 50-day conflict between Israel and Hamas during the summer of 2014, which ended in an Egypt brokered ceasefire agreement between both sides. The conflict left over 2,140 Palestinians dead, 10,000 injured and over 80,000 houses partially or completely destroyed, with 70 Israelis dead. The infrastructure of the Gaza Strip was also left severely damaged.
The Rafah crossing has been mostly closed since the ouster of former President Mohamed Morsi in 2013, but it occasionally reopens to provide humanitarian aid to Palestinians.
In response to the Ministry’s statement, the Office of the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process (UNSCO) said it “regrets any misunderstanding” Serry’s statement caused to Egypt. It added that the statements “did not in any way imply that the UN does not recognise Egypt’s sovereign and legitimate right to secure its borders”.
UNSCO further added that the closure of the Rafah crossing is practically a “fact”, along with the implications of its closure on the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
