Egyptian Foreign Minister Accuses Israel of Using Starvation and Blockade as Weapons Against Palestinians in Gaza.

Cairo: Egypt's Foreign Minister, Badr Abdelatty, condemned the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which continues to worsen daily due to ongoing Israeli military operations. He accused Israel of employing starvation and blockades as tools of collective punishment against innocent Palestinians, further violating international law. According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, Abdelatty made these remarks during a joint press conference with UN Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, held on the sidelines of the Cairo Ministerial Conference. This conference, under the patronage of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, aimed to enhance humanitarian assistance to Gaza. Abdelatty emphasized Egypt's proactive role in convening the conference to maintain focus on Gaza's severe humanitarian crisis. He underscored the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire, unrestricted humanitarian aid access, and efforts towards early recovery to pave the way for Gaza's reconstruction post-conflict. The Egy ptian minister urged all conference participants to declare contributions and mobilize resources to ensure sufficient humanitarian aid reaches Gaza. He also called for international recognition of the State of Palestine and its full membership in the United Nations, deeming it vital for a fair resolution to the Palestinian issue. Highlighting a critical point, Abdelatty demanded Israel's immediate and complete withdrawal from the Rafah crossing, advocating for its control to be handed to the Palestinian Authority. He insisted on Israel's full withdrawal from Gaza to enable humanitarian access via the crossing, asserting Egypt's stance against any forced displacement of Palestinians. UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed echoed these concerns, stressing the immense suffering of Palestinians in Gaza. She highlighted the thousands of victims and displaced persons, exacerbated food insecurity, and dire living conditions due to the Israeli blockade. Mohammed emphasized the necessity of humanitarian aid rea ching all areas of Gaza, noting that over a million people lack access to essential needs. She also condemned Israel's violations against the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) and reiterated the importance of a two-state solution for lasting peace and security in the region.