69 countries emphasized need to stop aggression against Gaza, FM says

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Ayman Safadi, said on Tuesday that 69 countries gathered in Jordan to say that the aggression against the Gaza Strip must stop. In a joint press conference with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry and Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths at the conclusion of the "Call for Action: Urgent Humanitarian Response for Gaza" conference, Safadi stressed the need for an effective international response to provide Gaza with its needs and protect the UN organizations responsible for aid. Safadi said that unless the aggression stops, the crisis will worsen and this is a shared international responsibility, describing the obstruction of aid to Gaza by Israel as a "violation of international law" and the continuation of the aggression as a "war crime." He added that the core of the conflict is the Israeli occupation. He noted that the core of the conflict is the Israeli occupation, stre ssing that all crossings must be opened, emphasizing that the conference's message was clear: there must be a greater effort to stop the ceasefire. Regarding UNRWA, Safadi said that this international organization cannot be replaced because it has the most experience and capacity in this field. Safadi spoke about the suffering of Gazans, noting that 80 percent of them are displaced and deprived of water, food and medicine. "We witnessed an international mobilization to stand on the side of truth and humanity," he said, adding that "efforts are focused not only on stopping the aggression but also on fulfilling the rights of the Palestinian people," describing Israel as a "pariah state" for its violation of international laws and norms. Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said that what happened in Gaza necessitated the convening of this conference, adding that "today we are witnessing a broad international consensus on the need to end the aggression and deliver aid." Shoukry urged Israel to fulfill it s responsibilities as an occupying power, calling on all stakeholders to abide by the outcomes of the conference, otherwise the international community will lose the foundations on which it was built. Shoukry stressed the need to stop the aggression and reach a ceasefire agreement, adding that the number of countries recognizing Palestine is increasing, which confirms the necessity of establishing a Palestinian state on the borders of June 4, 1967. Griffiths said that the conference witnessed solidarity and unanimity to help Gaza and provide it with all its needs, stressing the need to respect international humanitarian law and ensure the freedom of humanitarian workers. He called for removing all obstacles to aid, provide immediate support to Gazans, support humanitarian organizations financially, underlining the centrality of UNRWA. Source: Jordan News Agency