Israeli invasion of Rafah threatens regional security: Egypt FM
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Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry discusses stability in the Middle East and calls for an end to Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip.
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Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, center, speaks with his Cypriot counterpart Constantinos Kombos, during their meeting, at the foreign house in Nicosia, Cyprus, on Thursday, February 8, 2024. (AP)
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry participated on Saturday with his Saudi and Belgian counterparts in a discussion session entitled "Towards Stability and Peace in the Middle East", where they spoke on the challenges of reducing escalations in the Gaza Strip, which was held on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.
During the session, Shoukry emphasized the dangers associated with the humanitarian system's collapse in the Gaza Strip. He highlighted the legal, humanitarian, and political obligations of the international community under relevant international resolutions to facilitate the comprehensive, secure, and sustainable delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
He underscored the imperative to ramp up international efforts to bolster the operations of the international mechanism established under the Security Council resolution. This mechanism aims to facilitate, monitor, and coordinate the delivery of aid and to eliminate Israeli barriers hindering the full implementation of the resolution's provisions.
Shoukry further condemned the international community's failure to halt the inhumane war conducted by "Israel" against Gaza, saying the occupation is disregarding and blatantly violating international humanitarian law. He highlighted Israeli actions aimed at depopulating Gaza and attempting forced displacements of Palestinians from their lands, or liquidating the Palestinian cause, saying these actions directly jeopardize regional stability.
'Consequences to follow Rafah invasion'
In a related context, Shoukry issued a stark warning about the severe consequences of any Israeli ground invasion in the city of Rafah. He emphasized that Rafah serves as the last refuge for approximately 1.4 million displaced Palestinians, and any such operations would surpass all boundaries of humanitarian principles and international laws.
He further highlighted that the unfolding of such a scenario would have profound implications for Egyptian national security and jeopardize peace in the Middle East.
He further addressed the current challenges confronting the region due to escalating tensions amidst the Israeli aggression against Gaza, as well as in Lebanon, Iraq, and the Red Sea, underscoring the urgency of de-escalating the situation in Gaza, establishing a ceasefire, enforcing the truce, promptly exchanging detainees-captives, and preventing the expansion of violence and war to other areas in the region.
'Peace only possible through two-state solution'
The Foreign Minister concluded his address by highlighting Egypt's active engagement in numerous discussions aimed at addressing the war at its core and fostering "peaceful coexistence" among the region's peoples. He emphasized that comprehensive peace can only be achieved through the implementation of the two-state solution, leading to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with continuous and viable territory based on the 1967 borders, with East al-Quds as its capital.
It's worth noting that the Secretary-General of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, has issued a warning indicating that the ongoing Israeli aggression "jeopardizes the collective agreements signed between Israel and Arab nations," especially with regard to countries such as Egypt and Jordan.
