Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry confirmed during a phone call with Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide the necessity of opening all land crossings between Israel and the Gaza Strip to increase the flow of aid. Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ahmed Abu Zaid stated, "Mr. Sameh Shoukry, the Foreign Minister, received a phone call on April 7 from Mr. Espen Barth Eide, the Foreign Minister of Norway, discussing the situation in Gaza and the efforts needed to contain the humanitarian crisis in the region."
He noted that the two ministers discussed the international efforts underway to end the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip and the movements aimed at expanding the group of countries willing to recognize the Palestinian state and the criteria for reviving the peace process. The call also addressed various aspects of the deteriorating humanitarian and security conditions in Gaza, the ongoing efforts to ensure the implementation of Security Council resolutions, the latest of which is resolution No. (2728), as well as related General Assembly resolutions on the crisis in Gaza. They emphasized the inevitability of achieving an immediate and permanent ceasefire and ensuring the complete, safe, and rapid delivery of humanitarian aid to meet the urgent needs of the residents of the strip.
In this context, Minister Shoukry stressed to his Norwegian counterpart the need for Israel to comply with its responsibilities as an occupying power, to cease its attacks against Palestinian civilians, as well as against international relief workers present in the Gaza Strip, in violation of all provisions of international law and international humanitarian law. He underscored the necessity of opening all land crossings between Israel and the sector, and removing all obstacles to efforts aimed at increasing the flow of aid to the sector, including northern Gaza.
Abu Zaid added, "The ministers discussed the risks of Israel conducting a military operation in the Palestinian city of Rafah, affirming their rejection of such an action due to its catastrophic humanitarian repercussions that would further exacerbate the already deteriorating conditions among Gaza's residents, leading to severe loss of life." He concluded, "The two ministers agreed to continue coordination and joint efforts to mitigate the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip and contain its repercussions, and to explore ways to provide immediate support and assistance to the inhabitants of the sector."
