Sameh Shoukry, Egypt’s Foreign Minister, led the country’s delegation to the Paris conference on the humanitarian situation in Gaza, which begins on Thursday.
The conference aims to mobilize international efforts to provide humanitarian and relief assistance to the Gaza Strip, which has been suffering from severe deterioration of living conditions due to the Israeli blockade and the recent escalation of violence.
Shoukry will deliver a speech on behalf of President Al-Sisi, highlighting Egypt’s efforts to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and to mediate a ceasefire between the Palestinian factions and Israel.
On Wednesday, Shoukry received a phone call from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who praised Egypt’s important role in ending the crisis and delivering aid to the people of Gaza.
The two officials discussed the diplomatic efforts to reach a ceasefire and to protect the lives of Palestinian civilians, as well as the need for states to abide by international law and international humanitarian law.
Shoukry also expressed appreciation for the balanced positions adopted by the Secretary-General and the UN General Assembly resolution that called for an immediate humanitarian truce in Gaza and rejected the attempts of forced displacement of Palestinians.
