CAIRO: Government ministers from five Arab nations convened in Cairo to address the Gaza conflict, announced Egypt’s foreign ministry, preceding discussions with the top US diplomat.
In a unified statement released by Egypt’s foreign ministry, the ministers advocated for “a comprehensive and immediate ceasefire” and the “unrestricted opening of all crossings between Israel and the Gaza Strip,” where humanitarian aid has been severely limited, raising concerns of imminent famine, as repeatedly warned by the United Nations.
The gathering saw the participation of foreign ministers from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Jordan, alongside the Emirati minister of international cooperation and the Palestinian Authority minister for civilian affairs.
Reiterating their stance against any efforts to displace Palestinians from their lands, the ministers expressed deep apprehension over the looming threat of an Israeli ground invasion in Rafah, the southernmost city of Gaza.
This prospect has particularly alarmed the 1.5 million displaced Palestinians seeking refuge in the city, hemmed in by the Egyptian border.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan arrived in Cairo on Thursday afternoon to engage in a series of consultative ministerial meetings concerning the evolving situation in the Palestinian territories, as reported by the Saudi Press Agency.
Later in the day, the ministers were scheduled to hold discussions with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is on his sixth regional tour since the Israel-Hamas conflict erupted on October 7.
Blinken also held separate meetings with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry to address ongoing efforts aimed at safeguarding Palestinian civilians and humanitarian workers in Gaza, and to pursue an immediate ceasefire that includes the release of hostages, as outlined by the State Department.
Egypt plays a crucial role as the primary conduit for aid shipments to Gaza and serves as a pivotal mediator in ongoing negotiations hosted in Qatar, seeking to broker a six-week ceasefire. Such an agreement aims to facilitate the exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel and to bolster the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
The deadliest conflict in Gaza’s history erupted on October 7 after Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel, resulting in approximately 1,160 fatalities.
Militants also seized around 250 hostages, of whom Israel believes 130 are still in Gaza, including 33 presumed deceased.
