UPDATED: Egypt pushes for Gaza reconstruction on sidelines of UN Palestine conference - Foreign Affairs
Abdelatty's announcement came during diplomatic meetings on the sidelines of the United Nations (UN) High-Level International Conference on the Peaceful Settlement of the Palestinian Question and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, co-organized by France and Saudi Arabia, currently underway in New York.
In a meeting with Haoliang Xu, Acting Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Abdelatty stressed the urgent need for coordinated regional and international efforts to rebuild Gaza's devastated infrastructure.
He also shared details of an Arab-Islamic reconstruction plan, approved during the Arab summit held in Cairo in March, which Egypt aims to implement through the proposed conference.
According to a statement by Egypt's Foreign Ministry, Abdelatty emphasized the importance of linking reconstruction to a clear political framework that affirms Palestinians' right to self-determination and statehood.
He reiterated Egypt's ongoing mediation efforts to achieve a ceasefire and facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, while firmly rejecting any forced displacement of Palestinians. He also noted continuing coordination between Egypt and the United States to secure a deal that could help alleviate Gaza's deepening humanitarian catastrophe.
In a separate meeting with Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira, Abdelatty briefed him on Egypt's upcoming reconstruction conference and urged closer bilateral coordination to rally global support for an independent Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Both ministers agreed on the urgent need for a comprehensive and immediate truce to halt civilian casualties and ensure unrestricted humanitarian access to Gaza.
The New York gathering aims to revive the long-stalled two-state solution.
It comes amid worsening conditions in Gaza, where Israel continues to restrict vital humanitarian supplies — including food, water, and medicine — while expanding settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Currently, 142 of the 193 UN member states officially recognize the State of Palestine.
In a separate meeting, Abdelatty briefed UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Cairo's preparations to host a Gaza reconstruction conference, in cooperation with the UN, the Palestinian Authority, and other international stakeholders.
Abdelatty said the upcoming event aims to rally critical support for the implementation of the Arab-Islamic Gaza reconstruction plan, which is intended to provide the foundational elements for a dignified life for Gaza's population and enable them to remain on their land.
He also reaffirmed Egypt's unwavering support for UNRWA and condemned Israeli efforts to undermine the agency's operations in the Palestinian territories.
Describing UNRWA as a vital lifeline for millions of Palestinian refugees, Abdelatty warned that continued attempts to weaken the agency could have dire humanitarian and political consequences.
He stressed the importance of building on the momentum of recent UN meetings, viewing them as positive steps toward resolving the ongoing political impasse and reviving the stalled peace process.
Abdelatty reiterated Egypt's call for a clear political horizon to facilitate a just and comprehensive solution, grounded in international law and UN resolutions, one that ultimately leads to the creation of an independent Palestinian state.
He also reaffirmed Egypt's rejection of any attempts to fragment the Palestinian territories by separating the occupied West Bank from Gaza.
Follow us on:
Short link:
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al-Ahram Weekly
an hour ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Egypt's youth population hits 21.3 million in 2025: CAPMAS - Society
The number of Egyptians aged 18–29 reached 21.3 million in 2025, representing 19.9 percent of the country's total population of 107.2 million, the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) announced Tuesday. The data was released to mark the United Nations' (UN) International Youth Day, observed annually on 12 August since its adoption by the General Assembly in 1998. This year's theme — Local Youth Actions for the SDGs and Beyond — highlights the role of young people in driving development, with more than 65 percent of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) tied to local governance. Population breakdown CAPMAS reported that Egyptians aged 18–29 are 51.9 percent male and 48.1 percent female, compared with 50.5 percent male and 49.5 percent female in 2022. By the UN's definition of youth (15–24 years), Egypt's 2025 total is 18.8 million, or 17.5 percent of the population. In March, CAPMAS stated that females overall make up 48.6 percent of the population — about 52.2 million — with a gender ratio of 106 males for every 100 females. Higher education In the 2023/2024 academic year, higher education enrolment stood at 3.8 million students — 50.4 percent male and 49.6 percent female. Government and Al-Azhar universities enrolled 2.4 million students, with 72.7 percent in theoretical colleges and 27.3 percent in practical fields. Private, national, and technological universities enrolled 385,900 students, 81.2 percent of whom studied in practical disciplines. Technical institutes enrolled 199,600 students. The average student–faculty ratio was 22:1 at government and Al-Azhar universities, compared with 15:1 at private and technological institutions. In 2023, a total of 547,200 students graduated from universities and higher institutes, 56.6 percent of them female. Government universities accounted for 91.8 percent of graduates. Labour force participation Preliminary 2024 labour force data shows women's participation rate at 16.9 percent, compared to 70.3 percent for men. Among 18–29-year-olds, 42.7 percent were active in the labour market — 80.6 percent male and 19.4 percent female. Within this age group, 26.1 percent held a university degree or higher, 48.6 percent had an intermediate qualification, 15 percent had below-intermediate qualifications, and 10.3 percent had no formal qualifications. Unemployment stood at 15.3 percent — 9.9 percent for men and 37.8 percent for women. Among employed youth, 53.5 percent held permanent jobs, 18.8 percent had formal contracts, 18.6 percent were covered by social insurance, and 15.1 percent had health insurance. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Egypt Independent
2 hours ago
- Egypt Independent
Iran says UN nuclear watchdog official will visit country for talks, but no inspections planned
Reuters — A senior official from the United Nations' nuclear watchdog will fly to Iran for talks on Monday, but no visit to A senior official from the United Nations' nuclear watchdog will fly to Iran for talks on Monday, but no visit to nuclear sites is planned, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Sunday. Since Israel launched its first military strikes on Iran's nuclear sites during a 12-day war in June, inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have been unable to access Iran's facilities, despite IAEA chief Rafael Grossi stating that inspections remain his top priority. Iran has accused the agency of effectively paving the way for the bombings by issuing a damning report on May 31, which led the IAEA's 35-nation Board of Governors to declare Iran in breach of its non-proliferation obligations. Iran, which denies seeking nuclear weapons, said it remained committed to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). 'Negotiations with the IAEA will be held tomorrow to determine a framework for cooperation,' Araghchi said on his Telegram account. 'A Deputy Director General of Grossi will come to Tehran tomorrow, while there are no plans to visit any nuclear sites until we reach a framework.' Last month, Iran enacted a law passed by parliament suspending cooperation with the IAEA. The law stipulates that any future inspection of Iran's nuclear sites by the IAEA needs approval by Tehran's Supreme National Security Council
Al-Ahram Weekly
2 hours ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
New row between Israel defence minister and army chief - War on Gaza
Israel's defence minister on Tuesday reprimanded the country's army chief over appointments made without his approval, as tensions simmered between the military and the executive ahead of a planned expansion of the genocidal war in Gaza. A statement from Israel Katz's ministry, the defence minister, said that deliberations conducted by Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir on military appointments "took place... without prior coordination or agreement" with the minister. The statement added that this was "in violation of accepted procedure" and that Katz therefore "does not intend to discuss or approve any of the appointments or names that were published." In an army statement published shortly afterwards, Zamir responded that he was "the sole authority authorised to appoint officers from the rank of colonel upwards". "The chief of staff makes the appointment decisions -- after which the appointment is brought to the minister for approval," the statement added. Tensions have been simmering for two weeks between the chief of staff and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government over the next steps in the army operation in Gaza, where the occupation troops have killed nearly 62,000 Palestinians, mostly children and women. Israeli media reported that Zamir was opposed to a plan approved by the security cabinet on Friday to take control of all of densely populated Palestinian City. Israeli media reported that Zamir favoured encircling Gaza's largest city, rather than conquering it. The Israeli army controls around 75 percent of the Palestinian territory which has been devastated by 22 months of war. Zamir, who was appointed in March after his predecessor was dismissed, said last week that he would continue expressing the army's position "without fear, in a pragmatic, independent, and professional manner". Katz meanwhile said that the army chief could "express his views", but that the military would ultimately have to "execute" any government decisions on Gaza. * This story has been edited by Ahram Online Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
