Participants in the Gaza Emergency Humanitarian Response Conference called for allowing humanitarian aid to enter the Gaza Strip and to put pressure on Israel not to use the starvation of civilians as a method of warfare against the residents of the Gaza Strip. They stressed that there is no safe zone in Gaza.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi squarely placed the responsibility for Gaza’s humanitarian crisis on Israel.
He demanded an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire, an end to the use of starvation as a weapon, and the removal of all obstacles to aid delivery.
King Abdullah II of Jordan underscored the urgency of the situation, stating that humanitarian aid to Gaza cannot be delayed by political agendas or await a ceasefire. He expressed deep concern about the deteriorating conditions in Gaza, particularly in light of the recent Rafah operation.
The Gaza Emergency Humanitarian Response Conference is being held in Amman and jointly organized by the United Nations, Jordan and Egypt, in the presence of representatives of 75 countries and heads of international humanitarian and relief organizations.
It aims to identify ways to enhance the international community’s response to the humanitarian disaster in the Gaza Strip.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called upon the international community and the UN Security Council to pressure Israel to open all land borders with Gaza and transfer control to the Palestinian government.
He reiterated the need for a permanent ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces, and a political solution based on international legitimacy and the Arab Peace Initiative.
Abbas added, “Above and before all of that, efforts must be continued for an immediate and permanent ceasefire and the withdrawal of all Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, to open the way for the establishment of the State of Palestine and its assuming its full duties.”
Moreover, the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on all parties concerned with the conflict to reach an agreement on the ceasefire plan proposed by US President Joe Biden.
“I welcome the peace initiative recently proposed by President Biden and urge all parties to seize this opportunity and reach an agreement,” Guterres said a day after the Security Council endorsed the proposed plan.
Guterres described conditions in Gaza as “unfortunate”, saying that the rapid pace and scale of death and killing there is the worst he has seen since assuming the position of UN Secretary-General in 2017.
He stressed that there is no safe place in the Gaza Strip, and the deteriorating situation is getting worse, noting that all aid is prevented from entering.
Guterres reported that 80% of the population of the Gaza Strip does not have access to drinking water due to the continuation of the war and the cessation of aid. He said that the fear experienced by the residents of the Gaza Strip must stop, calling for an end to the war and respect for international law.
The UN Secretary-General called for the release of detainees, calling on Israel and Hamas to quickly reach an agreement, protect civilians in the Gaza Strip and secure the infrastructure necessary for their livelihood.
He stressed the need for governments and peoples to donate to the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, noting that the solution in Gaza is political, and is achieved through peace and coexistence between Israelis and Palestinians.
During the summit, King Abdullah awarded the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) the”Independence, First Class” Medal in recognition of its vital role in providing aid and essential services to Palestinian refugees.
