CAIRO: Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry on Wednesday urged a visiting US delegation to resume its financial aid for UNRWA, the UN aid agency for Palestinians.
Sameh Shoukry told the group of members of the US House Committee on Homeland Security, headed by August Pfluger, that the decision to halt funding would have an impact on Palestinian refugees in the West Bank, Gaza, Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon.
A total of sixteen nations suspended their financial support for UNRWA after Israel accused twelve of the agency’s 13,000 employees in the Gaza Strip of taking part in the Hamas-led assault on Israel on October 7.
Shoukry also stressed the significance of an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire to allow humanitarian assistance to enter Gaza in a sustainable manner and in sufficient quantities to meet the growing need, Arab News reported.
He also called for the implementation of Security Council Resolution 2720, which gives the United Nations a mandate to facilitate the entry of assistance into Gaza.
Egypt Reiterates Rejection of Israeli Military Operation Against Rafah
The minister reiterated Cairo’s rejection of any Israeli military operation against Rafah, which he said would represent a humanitarian catastrophe for over 1.4 million displaced Palestinians.
He also underlined his country’s efforts to bring security and stability to the region amid the ongoing threat of armed conflicts, terrorism, and different economic and development challenges.
Egypt’s vision and strategy for fighting terrorism took into account social, cultural, economic, educational, and development issues and sought to eradicate the problem at its roots, he said.
The visiting delegation emphasized the significance of good Egypt-US ties and expressed their appreciation for the role played by Cairo in supporting regional peace, security, and stability.
They also offered their full support for Cairo’s efforts aimed at reaching a permanent ceasefire agreement in Gaza.
