Iraq, Egypt Sign 15 Agreements and MoUs

A handout picture released by the Iraqi Presidency shows President Barham Salih (R) receiving Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly for talks in the capital Baghdad, on October 31, 2020. (Photo by - / IRAQI PRESIDENCY / AFP)
A handout picture released by the Iraqi Presidency shows President Barham Salih (R) receiving Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly for talks in the capital Baghdad, on October 31, 2020. (Photo by - / IRAQI PRESIDENCY / AFP)
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Iraq, Egypt Sign 15 Agreements and MoUs

A handout picture released by the Iraqi Presidency shows President Barham Salih (R) receiving Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly for talks in the capital Baghdad, on October 31, 2020. (Photo by - / IRAQI PRESIDENCY / AFP)
A handout picture released by the Iraqi Presidency shows President Barham Salih (R) receiving Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly for talks in the capital Baghdad, on October 31, 2020. (Photo by - / IRAQI PRESIDENCY / AFP)

Baghdad and Cairo on Saturday boosted bilateral cooperation by inking 15 agreements and memoranda of understanding during a meeting of the Iraqi-Egyptian High Joint Committee headed by Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi and his Egyptian counterpart, Mostafa Madbouly.

Accompanied by a high-level ministerial delegation, Madbouly arrived in the Iraqi capital to co-chair the meetings of the committee, meet Iraqi leaders and sign the MoUs.

The MoUs encompass fields of transport, water resources, health, environment, justice, investment, housing, construction, industry, trade and finance.

Noting that the meeting of the committee comes at a critical time, Madbouly emphasized the importance of enhancing cooperation between Cairo and Baghdad to face common challenges and dangers through establishing a strategic partnership.

Madbouly said that the region was witnessing successive developments.

The Egyptian PM said that his country’s policy towards Baghdad is founded on the principals of preserving Iraqi sovereignty and rejecting all forms of foreign interference in its affairs.

He also voiced rejection to illegal attacks taking place within Iraq, stressing that Egypt fully understands the political, historic and geographic particularities of the country.

Madbouly added that Iraq has a chance to become an arena for interests to meet.

Addressing the committee meeting, Madbouly praised "what was initially agreed upon concerning the importance of establishing an oil-for-reconstruction mechanism," which he added would contribute to double cooperation between both countries.

Madbouly told the Iraqi side that the Egyptian construction companies are ready to help reconstruct and develop Iraq's infrastructure.

He also said that the high committee meetings aim at maximizing the mutual benefit from the experiences and capabilities of the two countries in various fields.

Madbouly called for utilizing what he described as "great production and export potentials" that both countries enjoy.

Kadhimi stressed that his country looks forward to working with Egypt and strengthening cooperation between the two countries, while noting that the Iraqi government attaches utmost importance to the joint committee.

Kadhimi also thanked the Egyptian people and President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi for sending 15 tons of medical aid to Iraq.



UN Says ‘Deliberate’ Choices ‘Systematically’ Depriving Gazans

04 June 2025, Palestinian Territories, Nusirat: Displaced Palestinians gather in a charity kitchen to receive aid amid a shortage of food, in Nuseirat refugee camp. (Belal Abu Amer/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa)
04 June 2025, Palestinian Territories, Nusirat: Displaced Palestinians gather in a charity kitchen to receive aid amid a shortage of food, in Nuseirat refugee camp. (Belal Abu Amer/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa)
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UN Says ‘Deliberate’ Choices ‘Systematically’ Depriving Gazans

04 June 2025, Palestinian Territories, Nusirat: Displaced Palestinians gather in a charity kitchen to receive aid amid a shortage of food, in Nuseirat refugee camp. (Belal Abu Amer/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa)
04 June 2025, Palestinian Territories, Nusirat: Displaced Palestinians gather in a charity kitchen to receive aid amid a shortage of food, in Nuseirat refugee camp. (Belal Abu Amer/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa)

The UN aid chief said Wednesday that recent "horrifying scenes" of Gazans being killed while seeking food aid were the result of "deliberate choices that have systematically deprived" them of essentials to survive.

A US and Israeli-backed group operating aid sites in the Gaza Strip announced the temporary closure of its facilities on Wednesday, with the Israeli army warning that roads leading to distribution centers were "considered combat zones".

The announcement by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation follows a string of deadly incidents near the distribution sites it operates.

On Tuesday, 27 people were killed in southern Gaza when Israeli troops opened fire near a GHF aid site, with the military saying the incident was under investigation.

"The world is watching, day after day, horrifying scenes of Palestinians being shot, wounded or killed in Gaza while simply trying to eat," UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher said in a statement.

"Emergency medical teams have confirmed treating hundreds of trauma cases. Yesterday alone, dozens were declared dead at hospitals after Israeli forces said they had opened fire.

"This is the outcome of a series of deliberate choices that have systematically deprived two million people of the essentials they need to survive."

He echoed the call by UN chief Antonio Guterres for immediate independent investigations, saying they were not isolated incidents, and the perpetrators must be held accountable.

"No-one should have to risk their life to feed their children," said Fletcher.

The GHF began operations a week ago, but the UN and major aid groups have refused to cooperate with it over concerns it was designed to cater to Israeli military objectives.

Meanwhile the United Nations has described the amount of aid allowed into Gaza, after Israel partially lifted a more than two-month total blockade, as a trickle.

"We must be allowed to do our jobs: we have the teams, the plan, the supplies and the experience," said Fletcher, the UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator.

"Open the crossings -- all of them. Let in life-saving aid at scale, from all directions. Lift the restrictions on what and how much aid we can bring in.

"Ensure our convoys aren't held up by delays and denials. Release the hostages. Implement the ceasefire."