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Al-Ahram Weekly

Egypt urges pressuring Israel to end its Gaza blockade: FM to The Elders - Foreign Affairs

Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr Abdelatty urged pressuring Israel to halt its genocidal war and policies of starvation and blockade of the Gaza Strip during his meeting with the leaders and members of The Elders, a group founded by the late South African leader Nelson Mandela to support peace around the world. The meeting took place on Monday on the sidelines of the "High-Level International Conference on Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and Implementation of the Two-State Solution" at the United Nations headquarters in New York. During the meeting, Abdelatty detailed Egypt's vision for addressing the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and its efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement that ends Israel's genocidal war, according to a statement by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He also discussed Egypt's preparations for hosting the International Conference on the Early Recovery and Reconstruction of Gaza, which will be held once a ceasefire is reached. FM Abdelatty welcomed the group's planned visit to Arish and the Rafah crossing in August. He stressed the need to build on the momentum of the conference and advance efforts to implement the two-state solution and ensure the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on the 4 June 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. Meeting with Lebanon's Mitri FM Abdelatty also met with Lebanese Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri, affirming Egypt's support for Lebanon's security and stability amid the challenges the country is facing. He stressed Egypt's commitment to providing all kinds of support to the Lebanese government and national institutions to help restore Lebanon's security. FM Abdelatty further expressed Cairo's readiness to work with Lebanon on achieving its national priorities to fulfil the aspirations of the Lebanese people. The foreign minister also articulated Egypt's desire to enhance bilateral cooperation with Lebanon across various fields, looking forward to convening the Joint Higher Committee between both countries at the level of prime ministers in Cairo as soon as possible. Additionally, he affirmed Egypt's rejection of any violation of Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity, stressing the urgency for Israeli forces to withdraw from southern Lebanon completely and immediately. The two sides also discussed developments in the Gaza Strip, with Abdelatty reviewing Egypt's efforts to achieve a ceasefire that would ensure the unrestricted flow of humanitarian aid into the strip to end the worsening famine there. Egypt's top diplomat also reviewed Egypt's plans to host an international conference on Gaza reconstruction, in cooperation with the Palestinian government and the United Nations, immediately after a ceasefire is reached. During his speech at the conference on Monday, Abdelatty affirmed that the event succeeded in mobilizing a broad international consensus in support of an independent Palestinian state, despite being held at a critical moment as Gaza struggles to survive under famine. Abdelatty also lauded the 'courageous' declaration by French President Emmanuel Macron to recognize the State of Palestine. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link: