Egypt and Cyrus have stressed the importance of an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the facilitation of the entry of humanitarian aid as soon as possible.
“There is a consensus in the international community on the need to stop the Israeli war in the Gaza Strip,” Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said at a press conference in Cairo along with his Cypriot counterpart Constantinos Kombos following their talks.
The Egyptian FM then spoke about the strong political will to coordinate joint action between Egypt and Cyprus in many areas. “Our discussions focused on the latest development in Gaza. We demanded an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the delivery of humanitarian aid.”
According to Shoukry, the pair discussed Cyprus’ efforts to facilitate the entry of aid to the Gaza strip via sea.
He noted Egypt’s engagement for months with the US and Qatar to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and a prisoner exchange. “We are intensively coordinating to provide as much aid as possible to the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip,” the Egyptian FM said.
Shoukry affirmed that the recognition of the Palestinian state emphasizes the international community’s commitment to the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.
He said that the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing has become a theater of military operations, stressing that its closure has impeded the entry of humanitarian aid.
“Aid trucks are deliberately blocked from entering the Gaza Strip,” the FM said, stressing that the escalation of Israeli military operations in Gaza and the Palestinian city of Rafah will have dire consequences.
Asked about the chances to prevent the collapse of the US deal in light of the Israeli reactions, Shoukry said: “There is a consensus in the international community that it is time to stop the war in light of the unprecedented numbers of victims, the huge scale of destruction and the deteriorating conditions of the Palestinians.”
He then noted the increasing number of countries that have lately announced their recognition of the Palestinian State, including Spain, Belgium and Slovenia.
For his part, the Cypriot Minister expressed his country’s grave concern about the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza.
“The expansion of military operations in Rafah, with potentially irreversible and catastrophic consequences, needs to stop,” he noted.
Kombos said Cyprus strongly deplores the recent air strikes causing devastation and the deaths of so many innocent civilians, including children.
“The need for an immediate ceasefire and the release of hostages is imperative. Egypt has been instrumental in these and the international community must be thankful for Egypt’s leadership,” he affirmed.
Also, the Cypriot Minister warned the risk for a spillover of the conflict remains.
“The situation in the Red Sea, with serious economic and trade impacts, is another example. Equally, the situation in the West Bank, Lebanon and elsewhere,” he said, adding that Cyprus welcomes the US Plan and expresses gratitude for Egypt’s tireless efforts at all fronts.
The Minister said the Rafah crossing, from Egypt cannot, and will not, be substituted, also underscoring that the Cyprus maritime corridor, is an additive, complementary route via sea.
