Egypt slammed on Tuesday a call by far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich for the “voluntary emigration” of Palestinians in Gaza as “irresponsible.”
Earlier on Tuesday, Smotrich said the “voluntary emigration” of Palestinians in Gaza is the “right humanitarian solution” for the besieged enclave and for the region.
This statement “is an expression of the Israeli government’s policy that violates international laws,” said Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry .
“Any attempt to justify and encourage the displacement of Palestinians outside the Gaza Strip is completely rejected by Egypt and internationally,” he added.
Shoukry also said that Israeli policies that force Palestinians from their homes are “a full-fledged war crime under the provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949.”
He denounced Smotrich’s claims that any displacement of Palestinians would be voluntary, affirming that people in Gaza are being forced to leave their homes due to “deliberate military targeting of civilians in the strip and the intentional siege and starvation operations.”
The FM stressed that Egypt and the international community reject any attempts to justify or encourage the displacement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip.
Shoukry stressed Egypt’s unwavering rejection of forced displacement policies against the Palestinians, the liquidation of the Palestinian cause or any deliberate obstruction of humanitarian aid and essential services, which create unbearable conditions for civilians.
Shoukry called for those “who claim to care about the humanitarian situation in Gaza to work on halting Israel's military operations that are killing civilians, including women and children.”
He further emphasized that Egypt “will continue its efforts to preserve the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to remain on their territories and establish an independent, viable, and contiguous state with East Jerusalem as its capital.”
